THE UNFORTUNATE POLITIQUE, First written in French By C. N.  
Englished by G. P.  
OXFORD, Printed by L. LICHFIELD for JOSEPH GODWIN An. Dom. 1638.   

TO THE COURTEOUS AND INGENIOUS READER.  
THou hast here presented to thy acceptance, a brief History of the most remarkable Actions and Fortunes of this irreligious & improsperous Politician: By Birth (as the most approved Authors contend) an Idumean; a nation of most implacable malice and hostility, against God's chosen people; by usurpation and borrowed title, a King of judea; but in Fact and Government, a most bloody and barbarous tyrant: was 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 affection to his 〈◊〉 and alliance; (whereof 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 his Treachery or Fury: without all civil or legal regard of his people; and in one word, after the execution of those Infant Martyrs, the fittest Instrument to have involved the son of God himself (had that horrid attempt of his been feasable in one union massacre if innocent man kind.  
The Almighty providence was pleased to exalt him to an higher station, that like some malignant Contet or Prodigy of nature, he might be more eminently discovered, and possess the remotest and dullest eyes, with admiration and horror. But a land: mark that showeth a Rock, is as useful in navigation, as a compass that guides directly, and examples instruct as well by avoidance as imitation: And if those Ancients, that erected statues and trophies by the way side, to preserve the memory of their worthies did wisely to place Gibbets there also, to affright passengers with the memory of notorious malefactors; then certainly a most effectual spur to Religion and Virtue may her drawn from the contemplation and horror of this Monsters impleties and vices.  
The truth of the history being selected out of josephus and other approved writers, may pass without further warrant: The collection and composition, which is as the lineaments and colours, (or indeed the spirit and motion of the picture) we own to a foreign, but a judicious and fortunate Pencil, of one, whose name among the most discerning spirits, hath affectionately received the highest attributes, the judicious and eloquent Causinus; who collecting the materials and substance from more ancient and authentic records, hath added shape and varnish according to the Idea of his own judgement: And exposing it to the world in a French attire; I presume it will prove nothing the less attractive ●● graceful to an English eye. The habit it wears in English, it owes to a Translator, that needed not have suppressed his name, if his modesty would permit him to accept that Testimony, which I think, he hath justly gained, to have retained in this last draught, (so near as imitation can express Copies, or a second draught taken from a former Picture, can match that which was first taken from the face,) the original and native beauty, and in this small Piece to have had the happiest hand.  
So that if either truth and singularity of example, Art & Elegancy of composition, Activeness and life of expression, Fidelity and Felicity of translation may affect thee, I hope this short History, if it fail of thy applause and acclamation, shall assuredly find thy excuse and acceptance. To either of which, (as thy judgement shall incline thee) I leave it, and Thee (after an hour or two's vacancy to this recreation,) to thy more serious and useful employments.  
Farewell.   

THE UNFORTUNATE POLITIQUE, OR THE LIFE OF HEROD  
I Have cast my eyes and thoughts on diverse Histories, but never could light on any that might better bring great ones really to apprehend how much they are deceived, who sway a Court, or State by pure policy, and humane wisdom, squaring religion to their own ends, and interests, than the life and death of this unfortunate King of Iury. He had a natural judgement of a deep reach; an understanding, that could pierce unto, and fathom the most wonderful and mysterious practices; & a courage mounted to the highest degree and pitch that can be expressed: A man that had sprung out of nothing, yet built his fortunes as high as a Throne, and established it amidst so various, so knotty, and intricate affairs, that he made himself to be admired even of the most understanding heads then in the world. But since he built on that impious maxim, That he ought to make Law and Religion his stalkinghorse for to serve his own purposes, he led a life as full of villainy, as disquiet, which ended with the most woeful death that imagination can reach unto to conceive. What made me yet to resolve upon this History (which I have taken out of josephus, and some other smaller fragments, and Commentaries, spinning it out according to the copiousness of my style, & not strictly tying myself to any exact translation) was, that (beside the Unfortunate Politic) you read there Innocence persecuted and wearied in the life of a Lady that was the very mirror of Patience; and whom I propose here in the first rank, as one of the greatest Ornaments of our holy Court. It is not here without reason, that I would cull the fairest Roses amidst the sharpest Thorns; show her serenity, and calmness in the greatest tempest of a troublesome state; and seek a honey Comb even in the jaws of a Lion: since from Herod's Court I go to fetch out a chaste, and patiented Mariam, the very Tablet of Innocence most despitefully entreated. The patience of this poor Queen deserves to be consecrated with the pen of a Diamond to the Temple of Eternity; since it is able to eclipse the glory of the greatest Heroes, to transcend the power of Rhetoric, and to ravish the spirits, even of those that use not to admire aught that is obvious and vulgar. God who raises the glory of his chosen on the foundation (as it were) of the greatest miseries, seeing the soul of this Princess to be of a most hardy, and noble temper, thought fit to give her a spacious field for combat, that so she might win the more glorious & triumphant Palms of patience: And to this end he gave her wicked Herod to her husband, a Persecutor, a barbarous, and infamous Executioner, but by so much the more suitable to the patience of Mariam, by how much the more like a Persecutor, and a Headsman then a husband, and a head. To know the strength, and roughness of this anvil, we must know the hammer that beat upon it: The better to speak the singular goodness of this Queen, we must oppose unto it an anti-parallel, the malice of Herod; we must observe how this disloyal person, holding his Life, Sceptre, & Crown from the house of Mariam, in recompense thereof, took away from her both Sceptre, Crown, and Life. After he had ripped out her bowels (as I may so speak) putting to death her nearest blood before her eyes, & at last he flings her too, all weltering in her blood, upon the pile (where her kindred, and brethren were made a holocaust) to be the last sacrifice to his hellish fury; yet could he never shake her invincible patience, and constancy. Each one speaks of Herod, as a man composed of clay tempered with blood, as of a Tyrant that would murder mercy itself: But every man knoweth not the art, and subtlety, which he used to get into possession of his Mariam, and David's Sceptre; oppressing the one with all Ingratitude, and swaying the other with extreme Tyranny.  
About fifty years before the Nativity of our Saviour, the kingdom of judah, that since David stood on its bottom near a thousand years (though in that period it oft had suffered strange eclipses, & changes, being often rend, and sore shaken, & by those concussions often knit again, and took deeper root,) found its Tomb, and utter ruin in the fatal discord of two Brothers. Hyrcanus' an honest man, but a bad King, did then bear rule: he had neither strength, resolution, nor courage; as coward like in his charge, as innocent in his manners, & conversation. His over-facile demeanour made him degenerate into a kind of stupidity, and though unable to do any harm, yet did he suffer himself to be an instrument of all the insolences that were committed, for that he was too ductile, & capable of the impressions of another: Being apprehensive of this his weakness, he casts the honour, and burden of the Realm (with all willingness) on the shoulder of his brother Aristobulus, a man valiant, and hearty, but who had more employments then good success. During this declining and tottering state of Royalty, Palestina was much eyed, and courted of her Neighbours, and above all, by Antipater (the father of this Herod) an Idumean by birth, in's manners an Arabian, a factious spirit, well moneyed, and by his stratagems able to overturn a great Empire; who had of a long time on foot a project upon the Realm of judea, he well foresaw that it would be a hard task for him to put in practise his wicked designs, as long as that bold Lion Aristobulus stood on the top, or pinnacle; but if he were once dismounted, and Hircanus restored to the throne, than all should be at his arbitrement and disposal. What doth the Arabian, but go about sowing the seeds of rebellion in the hearts of the people against their Liege Lord Aristobulus? Telling them, they were disloyal cowards, to permit their lawful King Hircanus to be dethroned (in whose hand nature had put the Sceptre,) and the Kingdom to be transferred on a mutinous, and a turbulent spirit, who ere long would make them the wracks & desolation of all Palestine; that they had abandoned a King, whom they could not tax with aught, but excess of goodness, to admit of one, who having entered at the gate of treachery, could not reign over them without the trouble, and combustion of his country, when good Hircanus would divest himself of his right, they were to blame to condescend to his modesty, who was by so much the worthier to rule, by how much he deemed himself the more unworthy: The glory which he did fly from in undervaluing his own person, should have pursued him to his grave. If they did object against him too much gentleness, it was the more agreeable to the piety, and sweet behaviour of the jews. If the Doves were to choose them a King, they would ever make a choice of a Stalue, before a Sparrow-hawk. This subtle head, by such like remonstrances found many that gave ear unto him, partly amongst those that loved innovation, & partly too, among those that were carried away with the pretended justice of the cause, & none would yet espy his drift, which under the colour of public good, went about to erect a Monarchy for himself, or his heirs. Having now thrust the iron so fare into the fire, he studied how to win the heart of Hyrcanus with all manner of obsequiousness, and testimonies of friendship, which was not difficult to purchase; this Prince permitting himself to be overruled by those that would make any semblance of good will towards him.  
Behold him now (become as it were) Lord Protector, or Guardian of this flexible spirit, when under pretence of love he possesses in that manner, that all the actions of Hyrcanus' past currant no longer by any other authority, than the directions and counsels of Antipater. Nevertheless when he began to egg him forward for to make war on his brother for the recovery of the royal Throne, he found his heart so far benumbed that he had much ado to warm it, and strike a spark of courage into his soul, for the excessive coldness and the unmanliness of his Nature. But at length he preached one day effectually, and did edify much, telling him, that this quitting of his kingdom, which he had translated to his brother, was a thing that could not stand with his Honour, and safety of Life. What eye would not distil tears to see him in that contempt, & misery, while his brother lived in riot, and pomp: This was to confound the Laws of nature; this was to authorise tyranny. Petty thiefs are cast into a Dungeon, or Stocks, and Aristobulus that had usurped a kingdom, ruffled in silk, & sparkled with Diamonds.  
A Kingdom was a shirt which a man should not shift off, but with his life: they were the tales and dreams of idle talking Philosophy, that Crowns were lined with thorns, whereas they are Rubies & Diamonds, that never yet molested any man's head. The life which then Hyrcanus lead, would better become an Essean Monk, or a Capuchin, than a King: And to conclude, that all the people desired with passion to see him re-enstated in his father's Throne. He possessed his ears with so powerful Rhetoric, that he began now to gain upon him But there were many reasons, which held him in suspense. The one was his oath, by which he had renounced his Royalty; the other want of sufficient strength for the enterprise. For the oath, Antipater soon resolved him of that, telling him, he swore a heinous crime, and there was nothing could oblige him to the performance; and for strength, he acquainted him with the auxiliary forces of lusty Arabians, which he could levy at his command. While he yet staggered at this unsteedy footing, he went on to breath into his heart black mistrusts, and jealousies touching his brother, as though (after he had preyed upon his estate) he had an enterprise upon his life; surmising conspiracies to be plotted against him: and this he did with such art, & sleight, that Hyrcanus yielded to him, and gave him full commission of war, or peace, to do according as it liked him best. This concluded, the Apple of discord was fling into the midst: Antipater failed not to implore the aid of Aretas King of the Arabs, who comes up with a mighty army, which like an inundation overruns all Palestine, committing overruns all Palestine, committing all outrage, and hostility, sacking & depopulating (without mercy) all the way he went, insomuch, that he drove Aristobulus to a very narrow strait, beseiging him within jerusalem the Metropolis, and Royal City.  
But as the greater Serpent devours the lesser; so happeneth it hereupon, that the Romans under the conduct of Pompey the Great, now displaying their dreadful Eagles on the plains of Syria, leading an army of fire, before which all other Roytlets or minor Princes were but as chaff, make this Arabian glad to retire within his own territories, they march on victoriously without control, and interpose themselves to prescribe laws, to pronounce peace, or war, how, and to whom soever they pleased. The two brothers made all Courtship to the Roman, to purchase his favour, and amity; each one striving eagerly to win him of his side, well perceiving that the obtaining of this would speedily put a period to the controversy. Aristobulus (as the more generous hold, and Kinglike) at the first accessefound the more favour, in regard that among other largesses, he presented him with a vine all of massy gold, one of the rarest, and most exact workmanship in the world, which afterward, for a long time served for an ornament in the Capitol. At length behold both brothers prostrate at Pompey's feet, contesting both, & pleading not for a Hamlet, or Vineyard, but a Kingdom; nothing suspecting that while they staked their fortunes in the hands of a stranger, (who knew no other law but his ambition) instead of Umpire he would play the Vulture, & clasp them in his talons. Antipater seeing at first the balance to perpend to Aristobulus his side, as one that the Romans had reason to hope would be more serviceable, & advantageous to their designs, never ceased to decry him, to cast black aspersions on his reputation, and to work the Romans to a mistrust of his inclination towards them, still fawning, and couching like a Spaniel before Pompey: insomuch that Aristobulus foreseeing that this pernicious spirit, abusing the name, & weakness of his brother, would sell both to the Roman, sets himself on his guard; where he had but too much resolution, and too little strength to cope with the Army of so potent an Empire. This poor Prince being overmatched, and sinking under the weight of such an encounter, was taken captive, bound in chains with his two 'zounds and so many daughters, and led away to Rome to furnish a triumph for Pompey: jerusalem is made tributary, the Pontificate conferred upon Hyrcanus, but all the authority committed to the hands of Antipater. This was a spectacle that drew tears even from those, who before times could not affect Aristobulus, to see this unfortunate King in bolts, laden with iron, together with his Princely sons, and the poor Ladies his daughters, all the heirs of their father's misfortunes who were, leaving their native country, where they reigned in such Honour, for to seek through so uncouth and tedious voyages by sea & ●and, their thraldom or death, which is the more ordinary wish of unhappy wights.  
Antipater reaps the bays of this victory, and gins (though as yet stained with blood) to establish his little Monarchy which he had been so long a contriving. Hyrcanus' seemed like an old sepulchre which retained nothing but the name, or inscription. All things were effected by him in appearance, though not any thing indeed: The other entertained the Romans out of his Exchequer, bestowed presents, sent, and received Ambassadors, practised confederacies, corrupted the forces of his adversaries and rid his way of all the rubs, and impediments that might oppose his advancement, & greatness; and made it believed that this mild Pontiffie was prime mover and author of all. Then seeing himself each day to grow stronger in repute and authority, the better to assure the Realm for his sons after his decease, he made the elder (namely Phaselus) governor of jerusalem, and on Herod his younger son he conferred the Prefectureship of Galilee. In short time after, when he had sucked up all the wind with his flatulent ambition had engendered, and being now at his non ultra, not knowing which way to bend his machinations, he sucked up a glass of poison that was ministed unto him at a feast by the device of Malicus his enemy. Behold here the issue of humane practices! Those who are drunk with ambition, and are mad for Honours which they seek to arrive at by mischievous plots, and all the travel of body and mind, are like those little bubbles which arise on the surface of the water in a tempest, they swell, and burst in a moment. Antipater being dead, his two sons, Phaselus and Herod share equally in the succession, each of them maintains his own station firmly, & studies to temper the matter so as to get Hyrcanus still to act the same part to represent a King. Herod was no sooner entered upon his charge, even while his father was yet living (being not full fifteen years of age) shown early what in time he would prove by some excursions of his inbred disposition, which sometimes he made to sally out, like those little streaks, and sparks of heat in the air, that burst out of a cloud, and then after flash in lightning. He was of a fraudulent, and malignant spirit, ambitious even to a degree of madness, whose fingers did always itch to be imbrued in blood, and slaughter; and indeed he stained his tender years and the prologue of his reign with effusion of humane blood, putting to the sword Ezekias, who indeed lived in the esteem of a Rover & common robber, but he cut in pieces many other jews with him without discerning the guiltless, fed the guilty, which caused that many innocent souls were involved in this common ruin. The mothers of these people who were massacred by Herod, stirred not out of the Temple, lamenting, and with their heir disheveled, demanding justice from Hyrcanus, who was but an Idol, or Statue of Majesty. Notwithstanding being importuned with the cries of these distressed women, & set on by some of his Nobility, he caused Herod to be summoned for to appear in judgement. In this action it was well that this young Prince shown some resolution, and gave some assurance of courage. Others that were accused came to this Parliament of judea, all sad & dejected, but he arrived thither as to a feast or Theatre, attended with a flourishing convoy clad in Scarlet, all perfumed and his hair frizeled, & moreover with Letters of recommendation from the Romans, which were writ in the style of authority, and military language, commanding the judges to acquit him without any further process. He was scarce fifteen years of age, and yet with his very presence dashed the judges, and Advocates so out of countenance that of all those that had provided long haranges against him, there was not one that durst open his mouth while he was there. One of the judges whose name was Sameas, a right honest man, and of more courage than all the rest, spoke aloud to King Hyrcanns, who was there present: Idoe not wonder that this young Lord appears before this Tribunal in such equipage every man would secure himself as well as he may; but I do wonder Sir, that you and your Counsel should omit this demeanour, as if he came hither not to be judged, but to cut the judge's throats. You will now pardon him in favour, but he will one day assacinate you in justice. And indeed of this whole Senate there scaped not one that Herod did not put to death, when he had got the full power of the kingdom, except him only that had delivered his opinion of him with this bold simplicity. It is recorded of this Sameas, how that some years after a question being made of receiving Herod to be their King; when others did stiffly oppose it, he spoke freely that he gave his suffrage to Herod, & as they were wondering at the speech, marvel not at the matter (quoth he) God would give you a King in his anger, and he could not find one naughtier than Herod: He is the scourge which you do want to chastise your infidelity. Hyrcanus' then seeing the judges somewhat animated by the speech of Sameas and to be more inclined to the side of justice than Mercy, made him secretly to slink away, for he loved him entirely, and so hatched the egg of a Cockatrice within his own bosom. Herod who came not any way behind his Father in policy, following his examples and practices adhered firmly unto the Romans, winning them by all manner of observances, and entertaining Hyrcanus with all pleasance, and flattery. The kingdom of judea seemed as yet to be fare enough from his reach, Phaselus as the elder held the better part of it: Aristobulus whom you have seen led away in chains to Rome, had yet two sons, whereof the elder called Alexander was father to chaste Mariam, whose patience we do here blazon; the other was Antigonus, who spun Herod a spindle full of matter to untwist. But he was soon rid of both; for unfortunate Alexander successor of his father Aristobulus his disasters, being come to the field with certain forces, which he had picked up as well as his weak fortunes enabled him, was oppressed by the Romans, who came to the assistance of Herod. Antigonus being got lose from captivity, wherein he was detained at Rome, together with his father Aristobulus, cut out much employment too for Herod. For casting himself into the arms of the Parthians, he made them so many promises, and swelled them with such hopes that they undertook to invest him with the kingdom: and forthwith they made preparations by Sea & Land, and prevailed so far both by force, and cunning, that they chased out Hyrcanus, & Phaselus: Herod very narrowly escaped his life, and though he had a courage of steel, yet was he so amazed with this surprise, that he went very near to make himself away. Hyrcanus' was very coarsely handled by the command of his Nephew Antigonus, he had his ears cropped off, and so was made forever uncapable of the Pontificate. Phaselus, Herod's brother, being so enraged with this unexpected chance of fortune, dashed his brains against a stone.  
Herod, who had always stuck as close to the Romans, as the lvy to the wall, seeing his affairs in such a plunge & extreme hazard, implores their aid, and complains in most pathetic expressions of the violence of Antigonus, the incursions, and hostility of the Parthians, puts them in mind of the good services of his father Antipater, and promises on his part the Ocean, and all the scaly Legions. Which letters found so good success, that he (beyond all hopes and expectation) was proclaimed King of judea, and Antigonus an enemy to the Roman estate because a fugitive, and allied to the Parthians. Herod pursues him with hue & cry, being assisted with the forces of the Roman Empire. Antigonus still unfortunate in all adventures, after a fierce encounter, and long resistance was taken prisoner, and was the first of any king that by the command of M. Anthony was executed in a manner so unbefitting his quality, and to the Romans unusual, leaving his head upon a scaffold in the City of Antioch, for no other reason then seeking to recover his father's inheritance: But Strabo saith that M. Anthony knew no other way to make Herod to be agnized for King; both for that there were yet living some of the blood Royal, that were capable of the Sceptre; and for that the people loved their natural King, but hated the stranger.  
This Tragedy ended, Herod mounted on the top of fortune's wheel. Lo● all the thorns in his way (as he thinks) now grubbed up. There now remained of the Illustrious race of the H●smoneans, but an aged & weather-beaten Prince, one infant Boy, and two Girls to be defeated. Hyrcanus' was that aged Prince, who intruth drew an unwilling breath, whose head many turmoils, and vicissitudes of fortune hastened his hoary hair, he was then held captive in the Parthians hands; but the King, though a Barbarian, had compassion on a mild, debonair nature in so deplored a case, so that he permitted him to live within the walls of Babylon, with all the liberty as might be desired. This poor Prince who lived all his life time without any ambition did bear this change of fortune with an equal temper, and tenor of mind. The jews who lived in that King's dominions seeing him so maimed, and in a manner excoriated with stripes, poor & forlorn, yet gave him the respect of a King and expressed such honour, and reverence towards him, that he found a kingdom (in a manner even in his captivity.) Herod who saw that this man might stand him yet in some steed against those that could disquiet and annoy his anxious and unsettled estate dispatcheth an Ambassador straight to the King of the Parthians, with many fair presents, and Letters fraught with sugared words, and soothing compliments; wherein he doth beseech him not to bereave him of that only and best contentment that he had in the world but to add this courtesy unto his former favours wherewith he had obliged him: Hyrcanus, saith he, was his good Benefactor, his Protector, & Father, and since God had now given some repose unto his affairs, it would be a singular comfort unto him to communicate the Sceptre, the cares and pleasures of a King with one so trusty & so worthy to be beloved. The Parthian King willing to gratify Herod whom he saw to be supported by the Roman Empire (which he did more fear for its puissance, than honour for its valour) granted full leave to Hyrcanus to go whither he would. He (good man) consulted with the principal men of his nation, who did altogether dissuade him from it, but the easiness of his good nature (which did always swallow the bait without heeding the hook) yielded to those supposed courtesies of Herod, and so returned strait to jerusalem, where he was received with all demonstrations of joy, & amity. Behold no wall the Royal family in the hands of this barbarous usurper. Hyrcanus' had but one daughter, who took not after her father kind, for she was extreme haughty, and in this servitude did fret, and champ upon the bit, with much discontent, she was the mother of two children, a Boy and a Girl, his name was Aristobulus, and hers Mariam, who was after married to Herod. Mariam was esteemed the most beautiful Princess in the world. For Gellius who went about to survey the rarest features in the world, for to return a List of them to M. Anthony, having well scanned the most excellent pieces of Nature, when he saw Mariam, he protested that all other beauties were course, & cast in a mould of earth, in comparison of this which seemed to him to have dropped from the spheres, & to have been drawn by some divine, and immortal Limmer. This man saw but the bark, and casket, and yet was ravished with admiration; but her comeliness of body was nothing in comparison of the noble qualities of her soul. This was a tender Imp of the stock of the famous Maccabees, well versed in God's laws, discreet, modest, & respectful, that as Susanna, but above all courageous and patiented; living in the Court of Herad as job upon the dunghill. Never was beauty, & goodness so discountenanced, & unhappy in the fortunes of one person. This creature that might have been courted by so many Princes, that might have had such attendance ever ready at her feet, had now Herod for her Lord, who had nothing of a man but skin, & shape; and it was even all one to couple the Lamb with the Lion, the Dove with the Hawk, and tie the living to the dead, joining them mouth to mouth, as to wed such a Lady to such a Monster. But he that had now the power in his own hand, sues for her very passionately, both for her unparallelled beauty, and moreover the better to strengthen his estate, considering that the alliance of this young Lady, who descended from so great kindred, would add honour to him, and his house, who was but lately sprung up, and might make him to place more confidence in the Iews, and make them more loving, and loyal to him.  
Hyrcanus' the Grandfather of Mariam, and Alexandra her mother, seeing that Herod had now got his head above the waters, and was become master of his affairs, having now got the Sceptre into his own hands, although by tyranny, and intrusion; yet they measuring all by his place, & fortunes, not by his person and conditions, judged that this marriage might be yet for their advantage, and that his wife might supple his harsh nature, and make him more favourable to the Royal house. This noble maid foresaw well that to put her into the hands of Herod, was to cast her into the Lion's jaws: But not to contradict those to whom she owed her being, and to obey the laws of necessity, she submitted her neck to the yoke, fortifying her royal heart against all the storms that seemed to threaten & come thronging upon her. Behold her now married! Herod love's her, as the Huntsman doth his Venison for his own ends, and benefit: not losing by love one grain of his former ambition, or cruelty. This perverse thing held a kingdom like a wolf by the ears, still fickle, and shaking, and when his affairs seemed to be well settled, he studied nothing but how to rid himself of those, whom he had stripped naked of their fortunes, and strength. His Queen could find no respect, nor could she any whit mollify, and reclaim his savage conditions; he shown how little affection he bore to her solely, when he wrought for his own pretended interests, at that time when it was debated whom to Surrogate to be grand Pontifie in lieu of H●●●nus who (by his late deformation) being irregular in the law, was excluded from the Altar. Herod saw every day before his eyes in his own Court young Aristobulus, the only brother of his wife a Prince every way accomplished, and generally designed for the Tiare, yet he casts his eyes abroad and goes to seek beyond Euphrates in the City of Babylon a foreign jew named Ananell, & created him chief Priest. This was a pill which Alexandra the mother of Aristobulus, and Mariam could not easily swallow. It was in vain to candy o'er the business: She saw manifestly the rejection of her house, in that her son (notwithstanding so many obligations) was in a manner dispossessed of an honour, which blood & nature, and the general vote of the world did call him unto, and to be bestowed on a man of no worth, no repute. She could not well repress her anger from breaking out, and that in a higher strain than the miseries of the times, and malice of Herod would suffer unquestioned. Mariam all this while enjoying the tranquillity of her noble mind, goes upon a day unto the King, and with her natural gracefulness, and sweet carriage tells him, that the prop, & stay of her house was sore fhaken, and greatly weakened, & at the present in such a plight that she had no joy to hold a Sceptre any longer: She desired only she might quit the world with honour: Had he then bestowed the Mitre on her brother, he had advanced a creature, whom he could not stand in fear of, his Sceptre being thereby the more secured, and of whom he could not (in all reason) but hope the best, who was but young, and tender as wax (being in his own hand) she could temper, and stamp what impressions he pleased. This act would have made him reign in hearts as well as Provinces, when men should see him the father, and protector of the young son of Hyrcanus, whose virtues he had always hovoured. Lastly, that the honour which did redound to her by his alliance could not seem to her consummate, so long as she saw her own blood debarred from those honours, and promotions which he could place them in, without any prejudice to his own estate.  
Herod suffered himself to be won for that time by the charming language of Marinmne, and when he had well pondered the business, after mature deliberation, he resolved to confer the Pontificate on young Aristobulus his brother in law, which was performed with great solemnity. He assembles his friends in the Palace hall; then calling for Alexandra, he made a set speech against her in the presence of them all, much complaining of her behaviour, and telling them that she studied nothing but how to thwart, and disquiet his affairs, and to take from him a Sceptre which Heaven made him to purchase with much travel, & sweat, for to put it into the hands of an Infant to the prejudice of the Queen her daughter: nevertheless he could forget injuries, but could not forget his nature, which was to do well to those that sought to do him harm. Intestimony and confirmation hereof, he confers the Pontificate on her son, his purpose being never any other, and the Surrogation of Ananel made with no other intention then to continue for a time, while he did expect the child should grow to riper years. This poor mother ambitious according to and beyond the nature of her sex (upon this tender of the Pontificate) was so transported with joy, that her heart melted at her eyes, and thereupon avowed freely to Herod, that she attempted all the means possible to retain the Tiare in the royal house, judging it a matter very unbefitting to transfer it another way: but as for the Kingdom that she never pretended any right to it, & that such designs were fare from her thoughts: when it would please God to sequester her from the world she would dye with a contented heart, leaving her son great Pontifie, and her daughter Queen. Moreover if she had lashed it out beyond the bounds of duty and decency in uncivil speeches, that she was excusable, as being a mother very tenderly affected towards a son that deserved to be beloved, the mother in law of a King to whom such a near affinity would permit some more liberty of speech, and the daughter of a King to whom servitude was such a tough morsel, that her stomach could not well digest: and since he did deal foe friendly with her, that he should have no occasion hence forth to complain of her contumacy, and disobedience. Hereupon they join hands, and behold them now very good friends. But alas how like are the friendships of this world to the felicity of it: Worldly friendship is fickle & deceitful, & worldly felicity hangs on a rotten Cable, and hath its foundation on the Quick-fands. This poor mother rejoiced for a little tickling of her ambition, but could not perceive that her son was not a Priest indeed, but a sacrifice to the cruelty of Herod. Wise Mariam, who by long experience had learned to hold prosperity still in suspicion, would not permit her heart to be so dilated, nor give the reynes to her joys, but that she armed herself each day against the revolt of fottune. The feast of Tabernacles which is so solemnly celebrated among the jews, being come, Ananel after he had served a while for a Cipher is shamefully discarded. Aristobulus gins to exercise his function: He was then but seventeen years of age, but of a very tall stature, well proportioned, and straight as a Palmtree, glorious as a Star, and very much resembling his father: When the people saw him accoutred in his Pontificalibus, which were full of Majesty, marching up to the Altar, and performing his office with such gravity and decency, he seemed to them like a new Sun that issued out of the Clouds, and came to gild the world, which was before enwrapped in gloomy darkness. The hearts of all the Hebrews which had groaned under the pressures of civil wars, did now spread like Roses by the favourable aspect of this young Pontifie. His natural comeliness enchafed (as it were) within his Majestich Robes did cast an incredible lustre, and stateliness, which did dazzle the eyes of the spectators. Some beheld him with a witted, and earnest look, remaining like statues, but yet their tears proved that their eyes were not of marble. Others did betray their affections by many dumb emblems, and inarticulate expressions. Others gave vent to their joys, and their mouths delivered what their hearts conceived; not being able to forbear acclamations, though somewhat too free in respect of the times; yet pardonable in their simple affection. They called to mind the prowess of those ancient Macchabees, who had redeemed them from Idolatry; they knew how that poor Hyrcanus was but a Ghost, or shadow surviving his own funeral. They had fresh in memory the Grandfather of this young Pontifie, the great Aristobulus, who was led away manacled, and fast bound in cords like a Gallie-slave to Rome. They were not ignorant how that Alexander his father, and his uncle Antigonus had lost their lives in opposing the usurpation of a stranger. This young Prince alone remained, that had escaped so many wracks, and they saw that in his youth did live and spring forth the hopes of their country, and (as it is easy to believe what we love) they persuaded themselves, that Herod who at the beginning demanded the Realm in the name of this young Prince Aristobulus, was now to relinquish the booty, yielding to equity, and right. And for this effect, they did express their applause with the more freedom. But the ignorant multitude were far out in their accounts.  
Herod having well observed the posture of this people's countenance, saw that to talk outright according to maxims of state, or to make a grave moral speech, would have savoured somewhat of a Clerk, (and this was not his method or ordinary style) but enters into a furious jealousy, & causeth the Pontifie, and his mother, and his own wife to be so narrowly watched, and their actions pried into, that they could not wag a finger but he was advertised thereof. The prudent Mariam, among these suspicions, still living in good respect, appeasing discontents on either party, as much as her employments would permit her: But her mother Alexandra being pricked to the heart to see herself among so many spies, and eavesdroppers, who ever used, and still would fain converse with Royal freedom, resolved to play hazard, either to quit losses, or to double them, and to break the bonds of her specious servitude, or to offer her neck to Herod's falchion. So high a point did her miseries carry her to! In this extremity, what doth she? Cleopatra that Queen, whose name had travelled the world over, and filled it with the noise, was at that time in Egypt; and she hated Herod naturally, both for his barbarous conditions, and for some respects of her own: for she understood by good intelligence that he had intermeddled in her affairs, and had counselled M. Anthony to forsake her, yea, and to take away her life too. This Tyrant was so accustomed to the word Kill, that he prescribes easily to others those remedies which himself used for his own maladies. 'Tis a strange memorable thing that Cleopatra being to pass one day through judea, he took a resolution to send her to another world, thinking to gratify Mark. Anthony by this means: but his friends dissuaded him from it, telling him it was an enterprise too rash, and difficult, & able to ruin his fortunes eternally. But yet the project was never discovered. Cleopatra had but too much reason to hate Herod: which did embolden distressed Alexandra to write unto her in these terms.  
ALEXANDRA to Queen CLEOPATRA Sends Greeting.  
MADAM  
SInce God hath made you to be borne with that advantage above all other Queens for eminent qualities, it stands with good reason, that your greatness should serve as a refuge, and Sanctuary to the innocent, and an Altar to miserable persons. Poor Alexandra that hath much innocence without support, and too much misery without all succour, or consolation, casts herself into the arms of your Majesty, & is now become your suppliant not for the recovery of a Sceptre, but for the security of her life, and the life of her son, which is the most precious gage, and pledge of heaven's bounty, that was now left her. Your Majesty is not ignorant how that fortune made me the daughter and mother of a King, but Herod hath reduced me to the rank, and condition of Maidservants. I am not ambitious of my suffering which I had rather dissemble, then with ostentation repeat, but all that a slave can endure in a Galley, do I undergo in a Kingdom, by the in humanity of a son in law, who having snatched the Diadem into his hands, would fain deprive me also of life. We are all the day among spies, knives and the apprehensions of death, which would do us lesser harm if it were more sudden. Reach out your assisting hand to the afflicted and grant us some small obscure nook within your Realm, while we expect this tempest to be blown over; while we wait the dawning of some hope, and some light of comfort to shine again on our affairs: The glory will remain yours, ours the eternal commemoration of your piety.  
Cleopatra having received these Letters, made answer without delay, and invited her to come down to Egypt with all speed convenient, and her son with her, telling her that she held it an honour for her to be able to serve for an harbour to the afflictions of such a Princess. Departure is fully resolved of, but the means to contrive it was a piece of difficulty. Poor Io knew no way to steal herself away from this Argus, who had so many eyes upon her: at last (as the wits of women are nimble for inventions, especially in cases that nearly concern them) she without imparting her intention to any body, no not to her daughter Mariam, fearing lest her too soft, and tender nature would advise her to continue still within the bounds of patience, rather than to undergo so dangerous, and wearisome a voyage: she (I say) consorting the business only to her own fancy, caused two Coffins (by an unlucky omen) to be provided for to put herself and her son in; (thinking by this means to delude the diligence of the Guard, where in they were to be conveyed to the seaside, where lay a Ship ready to waft them, and so to save her life through the dominions of death. But by misfortune one of her servants named Aesop one of those that should have carried the Coffin, going to visit one Sabbion, a man well affected to the house of Alexandra, happened to let fly some speeches touching this adventure of his Mistress, as thinking he had talked to one that was privy to all her secrets. Perfidious Sabbion had no sooner pumped out the whole story from this groom, but he repairs strait to Herod, to disclose all that he had heard, judging this to be a very expedient course for to purchase a reconciliation: for he was a long time suspected to be of the faction of Alexandra. Herod, when he received this intelligence, multiplies the number of his spies and sentinels. The poor Lady is apprehended, and taken out of the Coffin (as out of the Sepulchre of the dead, & condemned to live a longer captivity) all abashed, & chafing for that the Comedy sorted not to a wished effect, thinking that (since she missed her aim) she should not desire to live any longer. Yet notwithstanding here (whether it was that he feared the great name of Cleopatra, or that he would not startle Alexandra, that he might oppress her by some more facile way,) did nothing to her for the present: He kept close within himself, dissembling over the matter without speaking one word thereof, though he saw the clouds to gather thick, and ready to burst into thunder and tempest.  
This royal Devil that had rid so many souls out of the world by Martial Law, and force of Arms would now send away one in sport. Upon a day in summer, as he dined with unhappy Alexandra, feigning all that had past to be buried in deep oblivion, tells her that in favour of youth, he would play the young man, and invites Aristobulus his brother in law to play at Racket, or some such exercise. The match is made, the emulation grows hot, the young Prince being earnest at his game had not played long before he was all in a sweat, as many other Lords, and Gentlemen were. Behold they run all to the waters, which did glide along near the place of recreation. Hered (who well knew the custom of Aristobulus, and presupposed that he would not fail to go and fling himself into these cold baths,) doth villainously complot with some youngsters, who (under colour of sporting) should make him drink more water than should serve to quench his thirst. All things succeed according as he had forecast. Aristobulus seeing others in the water, strips himself of his , and bears ' them company, he had no other intent but to swim, play, and skirmish on this element, always dangerous, though not so treacherous as Herod. The poor sacrifice frisks, & leaps, nothing ware of the misfortune that attended him: But the execrable murderers knew it well, forespying their opportunity at this fatal sport, they stifle the poor Pontifie under the merciless waters, being the 18 year of his age, and the first of his Pontificate. This fair sun which arose with such splendour and applause, sets under the waters never to rise again but with the paleness of death in's visage. O humane hopes, where, or what be ye? Mere dreams of waking men, aery phantasms of flitting fire, that shine only to be extinguished, and in extinguishing bereave us of light, leaving us a bad stench, and the sorrow of your loss! This Prince in whom was built a new all the hopes, and glory of the roy, all house of the Hasmoneans; This Prince that should have reunited the Mitre, and the Diadem, and revived the honour of a race quite extinct, behold him now by accursed treason stifled under water, in such an age, and of so comely a personage, that they made this accident by so much the more full of pity, by how much it was more desperate of all remedy. At this news all the City of jerusalem was in such amazement, as if Nebuchadnezar being returned from the other world stood again before her gates. Every where there was nothing but tears and lamentations, but horror and astonishment, out-cries, and the image of death. You would have said that each house carried forth to burial their first borne, as had been seen long before to fall out in Egypt. But above all others Alexandra the piteous mother afflicted her self with sorrow that would admit of no consolation: Sometime she bemoaned, lying prostrate on the dead corpse of her son, seeking within his eyes (those two eclipsed luminaries) and on his cold lips for some remnant of life: Sometimes she rolls her eyes like some frantic Priestesse of Sacchus, crying for fire & sword, halter's and precipices, that she might put a period to her life and miseries! Heavy Mariam, (though the patientest of all) yet had much ado to withstand the violent assault of incomparable grief: she loved this brother entirely, as the portrait of herself, as the dispositary of her heart, as the hope of her house too miserably rend, and all wounded with grief (as she was;) yet (good Lady) she thought of the sorrows of her mother, and lies behind the dead body of her brother, as if she had been the very shadow thereof. Then turning to God with an affectionate heart she sends up this ejaculation.  
O my God behold me now in an estate wherein I have nothing more to fear but thy justice, and nothing more to hope for then thy mercies. He for whom I feared, and in whom I hoped all that might be feared or hoped for in all the events, and affairs of this world is ravished from me by some secret decree of thy providence, which I have taught my hart to adore, though the weakness of my apprehension cannot trace the footsteps of it. If among so many calamities, I did yet suck any sweetness from the world in presence of this object, which thou hast bereft me of, lo I am now robbed of all; hence for ward, I shall find nothing but worm wood, that so renouncing all earthly comforts, I may learn to relish those which are proper to thy children reserved in Heaven. Behold how pious and gentle souls can extract honey out of the rock and turn all to merit even the distillation of a tear that trickles down the cheeks. The impatient, as Alexandra, wound themselves without all consolation, torture themselves without remedy, and sometimes split against the rock of despair without remission.  
What shall we say that Herod too in this sad consort of grief did bear his part? He made (indeed) an outward show, and by close hypocrisy, did well personate a real mourner. He cursed the sport, railed against fortune: He charged Heaven with sinister envy in bereaving him of an object, on whom he desired to express all the cordial love, and respect that he bore to the royal house, to the which he did (in part) own his advancement.  
He went to visit the Queen, and her Mother very ceremoniously, and when he beheld them bemoaning about the dead body, the brinish tears gushed out of his eyes: whether it was that he had taught them to drop at command, to carry this dissembling the more artificially, or whether indeed he had some compassion, or pang of grief beholding on the one side this tender flower, so early cut down with deaths impartial sickle, together with so many celestial graces, which found their period and horizon, at the point of their uprising and nativity; and on the other side considering the poor Queen drowned in a sea of sorrow, which to behold might force tears from rocks. This perfidious wretch that had something yet of a man, and I believe that nature for that time did extort those tears from his barbarous cruelty: hitherto he feigned himself to have suppressed his grief manfully; then turning to the Ladies, tells them that he was not come then to dry up the floods of their tears so soon, which had but too just a subject to be spent upon, himself had not the power to keep back his, he was forced to give nature leave to have her course, and act her part, time would shortly act his too, and apply a plaster to their griefs; that he would perform in the memory of the dead Prince as much as an only son could expect from an affectionate father, and potent King, and that thenceforth he would be the son of Alexandra, the husband and brother eke of Mariam, since God would needs redouble his obligations by the loss that they had suffered.  
Genuine Tytanny, what is it but an insatiable appetite of revenge? Alexandra who (a man would think) should have thundered in injurious and reproachful terms, as one that knew well that Herod (whatsoever he put upon it) was author of this Tragedy, did dissemble the matter very strongly without showing towards the king on her part, so much as a discontented look when time and place would favour her. Herod withdrawing himself now from the stage, thought he had acted his part wondrous well, without casting any shadow of suspicion on his side, seeing that Alexandra did not utter a syllable, whose manner was to pout, and quarrel on fare smaller occasions. To bring in the last lenitive, he causes the funcralls of the deceased Prince to be celebrated with such pomp, and magnificence, that nothing more could be added, both for the order, or conduct, and for the rarity of the spices, and odours, and also for the costly structure of the Sepulchre: the simpler sort did verily believe that this proceeded from a true, & sincere affection; but wiser judgements said they were but feigned tears, or wrung out perforce, and that Herod could not be sad in earnest for this accident, which took the mote out of his eye, and did little him in full possession of the Kingdom of jude a. Alexandra joining the passion of sorrow with that of vengeance, failed not presently after funeral rites performed to advertise Queen Cleopatra of all that had haphed, and in such doleful accents, that each period seemed to have been writ in tears of blood. Cleopatra, who was already well prepared, took fire suddenly: she entertains the matter so hotly, as though it had been her own, she gives the alarm to the whole Court, she storms & doth continually lash the ears of M. Anthony, crying, that this was a thing insupportable, to see a foreigner wear a Sceptre, that did by no right belong to him, to massacre the heir apparent with such barbarous cruelty, to keep poor Queens in slavery against all reason, and the privilege of their births. Anthony who knew that Herod was his creature, & the work of his own hands, did not willingly give ear to these complaints: Nevertheless to satisfy Cleopatra, he swore a solemn oath, that he would examine the business, and would send for Herod, and if he found him guilty of such barbarousness, he would execute exemplary justice upon him. Behold Herod is summoned to Laodicea, where M. Anthony for a time was to sojourn', hither he is city to make his appearance, & to purge himself of the murder of Aristobulus, which he was held to be the author of. This was a crack of thunder to his guilty soul, which did terribly awaken him, when he least of all thought of it, & put him in such fearful dumps, and apprehensions that can scarce be imagined. On the one side he had before his eyes the guilt of his ofsence, and the voice of blood which cried loudly in his ears: On the other side, he saw that all his fortune did depend on M. Anthony, who would not have stirred then, but by the instigations of Cleopatra his mortal adversary, & whom he knew to have had a great longing after the Kingdom of judea for her own accommodation. But nothing tortured his brains so much as some frantic fit of jealousy, for he imagined that Anthony, a wanton Prince, who went about to observe the beauties of Queens, would have had a taste of his wife, whose picture had been before brought unto him, and that for to purchase his quietness, he would cause him to prostitute her, as a sacrifice to his lustful pleasures.  
The man was puzzled and perplexed on all sides, and did descry every where objects of fear and danger; sometimes he resolves on a voluntary banishment, sometimes he thought it the better course to rid himself out of the world, another time he musters up his wits, and strength, and goes about to make resistance, but nothing seemed better in his judgement, then to delay, and protract the business, as much as he could possibly. Anthony being ready pressed for his expedition against the Parthians, sends for him in good earnest; his delays, and evasions did improve the former suspicion. He must needs travel: or resolve to lose all. He takes leave of his Mother-in-law Alexandra, and his wife Mariam, without all fear, or complaining, not showing any sign of discontentment, as if he had been tomake a journey only for pleasure. Moreover, he had yet his own Mother at Court, and his Sister Salome, to whom he gave strict charge to watch heedfully the steps and behaviour of those whom he thought had wrapped this web for him. Then taking his uncle joseph aside, he speaks to him in these words; Uncle, you know the business which calls me to Laodicea, which is indeed of no small consequence, seeing my innocence undermined with so much study, & eagernes, and by many powerful personages, who were the more to be feared, if their purposes could take so much effect as it hath of affection. But I hope to break through this mist, and fowl weather, that you shall see me triumph over calumny by mine integrity, as you have erst seen me triumph over hostile attempts by mine Arms: if God dispose of it otherwise, all this trouble is procured me for my beauteous wife's sake, on whom M. Anthony might have some plot, & this might be the occasion of hastening my journey, for to give his passion more ease, and liberty. But for the present I adjure you by the respect you did always bear towards me, by my fortune which you do reverence, by our blood and nature, that if (peradventure) you do understand that I be otherwise entreated, than my quality and innocence will bear, you permit not after the death of Herod that his bed be injured. Maintain the Kingdom for you and yours, and cause my wife forthwith to be dispatched out of the world, for to bear me company in another life. Kill her resolutely for fear some take possession of her after my death. If souls departed have any sense, or ceiling of the affairs of this world, this will greatly solace, and content me.  
joseph was not a little startled at this tale, yet promises notwithstanding to put all things in execution according to his will, in case necessity required it. But his fortune always dreadful, and invincible, made him to conceive fare better hopes: Hereupon he sets him on his way, taking with him the choicest pieces, and ornaments in his Treasury for to present unto those, whom he should stand in need of: showing moreover such confidence in his countenance, as he harboured despair in his heart.  
When he was arrived at Laodicea, he found many strange informations, & articles drawn against him, which did charge him sorely with the murder of Aristobulus. It was made manifest to M. Anthony, that Herod had always his eyes, and thoughts bend upon the kingdom of judea, set on by his furious and exorbitant ambition, so that nothing more did check his hopes then to see Aristobulus living, to whom he knew in his conscience, the Sceptre so justly to belong, that he durst not beg it himself from the Romans, but with the title of Regency, & Protectorship, during the minority of the right heir. That he had converted his Regency first into a Royalty, then to Tyranny, removing (as much as possibly he could) the blood Royal from all dignities, for to advance men of naught into such places, witness Ananel substituted to the Pontificate, whereof Hyrcanus was despoiled, that which made him change his purpose was not his good will and affection, but importunity, and the apparent danger which he saw to arise by the people's insurrection, for the repulse of the Royal family. That Aristobulus being promoted to the and received with the general shouts, and acclamations of the people, this action was so distasteful and odious unto him, that he could not conceal the madness of his envy, under the mask of his ordinary hypocrisy, that since that time he never gave over to persecute the deceased Prince and his mother, in such amanner, that they finding no place of rest among the living, hide themselves in the Coffins among the dead, so to be conveyed to Sea, and thence to sail for Egypt; that he caused them to be apprehended in the fact, and that from thence forward, he studied nothing more than how to rid them out of his way, that the young Prince died in the waters not solitary, & abandoned to himself, but stifled manifestly by some insolent Pages of the Court, and bosom of Herod.  
All this process, or bill of information (say they) was so evident, and clear, as if it were written with the Sunbeam. The voice of blood reached up into heaven, that the Traitor could not still the cry. They showed the picture of this poor Prince, which was a little before his death brought into Egypt for the singular admiration of his beauty, they made his Ghost also to speak, & to demand justice of M. Anthony, for being so inhumanely assascinned in the flower and spring of his years, by the blackest treason that ever had been devised. The regrets and sorrows of the poor mother amongst all these were not pretermitted in her absence. Cleopatra did act on the Tragedy, the onset was hot, the battery very fierce, and violent: Herod who never wanted an eloquent, and smooth tongue in his own behalf, makes his Apology with a most demure, and sober modest countenance.  
Illustrious Prince,  
ANd you my Noble Lords that assist at this Council, I do not hold the Sceptre of judea from Hyrcanus, nor yet from Alexandra, I never had the intention to flatter them to this effect, and have less reason yet to stand in awe of them: You know (most noble Anthony) that the Kingdom that is now in my hands I hold from you; by you have I advanced my greatness, and in you are terminated all my hopes. If you command, I am ready at this hour, not to lay down my Sceptre only, but also my life, which I was never desirous to preserve but for your service: But it troubles me that the way of death, being wide and open to all the world, that of reputation (which to me is dearer than my life) is blocked up against mine innocence. I am persecuted by women, and I do greatly wonder that the soul of Cleopatra all divine could engender so much choler, and rancour against a King, who never failed in his respects justly due to her worth and honour. For Alexandra I do not at all marvel if she raised this tempest against me; her fierce, and high spirit hath still tempted my patience, labouring by all sinister ways to avile, and disparage my government, and to take away perforce a crown, with a more puissant hand then those of her forefathers hath set upon my head. What reason could she pretend? Since by the favour of the Romans, I do peaceably stand in a Kingdom, which was cast upon me with the consent even of my adversaries. I never sought for it (my ambition was so regular & modest) if I had, I had been guilty of a crime so horrible, that could not come within the thoughts of a mankind-wolfe. There is no man would play the villain merely for pleasure; the Idea of vengeance, which is represented to the fancy, carries (as it were) a torch before the offence for to reveal it to the world. To what purpose had it been to attempt the life of Aristobulus? Was it to establish my estate? That was secure enough already: Your favour (most noble PRINCE) hath conferred on me more than all casualties whatsoever shall be able to conquer, or ravish from me. But I have ever put back the royal house from all promotions. How put it back? What in calling the disjointed and scattered kindred within my bosom, as much as lay in my power? Every man knows, how that Hyrcanus' chief of the royal family, being detained prisoner among the Parthians, I stretched my nerves, bend my veins, and engaged all my credit to set him at liberty, and make him return to Court where he lives now in contented peace, partaking of all the rights, and privileges of Majesty, without molesting his head with any care of Civil affairs. 'Tis well known I have shared with him my Crown, and my bed with his daughter Mariam, making her Queen of Nations, and the spouse of a King. I gave the Pontificate to her brother Aristobulus of mere freewill, being no way constrained thereunto, as being absolute in the managing of my estate; and if I have adjourned it for a time, it was because the age of the child did not tread equal paces with my desires, for in effect they have seen him Pontiffie at eighteen years of age, which was no ordinary favour. Alexandra his Mother which caused all this stir and turmoil, ever had full liberty in my Court, except the Licence to undo herself, which she so oft, and eagerly desired. For what reason had she to thrust herself into a Coffin, and be carried by night as a dead body, to steal away out of my Court, and after she had reviled me in my house, now to go and disparage me abroad among strangers? If she had desire to make a journey to Egypt, had she spoke the word, it would have sufficed; but she pleased to surmise false dangers in true safety, and to put those into hazard of their lives, that made her to live in all security. When I had discovered this imposture I have not let out one harsh distasteful word against her, making her to enjoy with case the spectacle of my patience, and judging that every foolish offender is sufficiently punished by his own conscience. A short time after followed the lamentable death of the young PRINCE, which drew from me bitter tears of compassion, for I loved him dearly, and I am sorry his Mother altered the sweetness of his good nature, and caused so much trouble to his younger years. He died not with me, but at his Mother's house, and by an accident which no man could prevent; died sporting in the water, an element that we cannot trust unto, where thousands have perished, without any treachery; died with some pages of the Court, with whom he did usually take his pastime. 'Twas his own motion that brought him to the water: The alacrity of his youth made him play with danger itself, which none could dissuade him from, and his dismal fate drowned him. It were too hard, and unreasonable a task imposed upon me, if Alexandra would have me be accountable for the youthfulness of her son, as though I had been his Governor, or for the infidelity and inconstancy of the elements, as if I were Lord over them.  
This pernicious head delivered this speech with such grace, and plausibility that he took off the edge of their spleen. Such power hath Rhetoric even in the tongue of a miscreant! Lo he is past all danger, being as yet but got aboard (as they say,) walking in the Court of Anthony with all freedom, expecting his sentence of justification. In the mean while (as he was courteous & liberal on occasions) by virtue of his donatives he won the hearts of the chiefest men in the Court, and made all the accusations to be but the pettishness, and spleen of a woman misinformed. informed. M. Anthony himself told Cleopatra that she did ill to intermedie so much in foreign Kingdoms, and if that he should offend by her incitement she might stir up enemies to the hazard of his estate; that Herod was a King, and it was not fit to use him as a subject, nay it was his happiness to have him rather for his friend then his foe. While matters were a canvasing in Anthony's Court, the Mother and sister of Herod failed not to observe with all diligent circumspection the actions of the Queen Mariam and of her Mother Alexandra. His Uncle Joseph was Keeper of the Prison, and did often visit Mariam, sometimes for business, and sometimes for compliment. This man began to be singed like a butterfly with beams shot from the eyes of this incomparable beauty, and did bear a great deal of affection towards her, and though he saw himself fare enough from all manner of pretensions, yet notwithstanding he took a delight, that he had placed his love on so high an object. This passion turned his brains, and made him foolish and talkative, being already clown enough by ill education, which made him talk wonderful ridiculous, and foolish. For one day when there was a speech made of the affection that Herod bear to his wife Mariam, Alexandra her Mother jeered at it very ironically, according to her fashion; joseph who would have the Queen still to entertain a good liking of her husband his Master, whether he was mad or drunk spoke with a loud voice:  
Madam, let your Mother Alexandra speak her pleasure, but to show you an evident testimony of the love the King your husband bears you, he gave me a charge, in case he were put to death himself, to kill you also, for that he could not be without your company in the other world.  
At this speech the poor Ladies grew pale and wan with fear. Alas the Tyrant (quoth Alexandra in her heart) what will he do being alive, since that in his death he causeth those to die that survive him. In the mean while there went a rumour very brief in jerusalem (the dreams of credulous men) that Herod was dead, that M. Anthony had sent him to execution, being convicted of the death of Aristobulus. Whether this bruit was divulged abroad by some of Herod's enemies, or whether himself made it be spread secretly, for to prove the countenance and inclinations of men. Wise Marianme seemed to give it no credit. Alexandra grew impatient and shrudded like a bird on the perch, beseeching joseph with all supplications possible to take them out of the palace, and to lead them to the Court of Guard of the Roman legions, committing them into the protection of Colonel julius, that they might thence pass with safe conduct to M, Anthony; for she greatly desired that this PRINCE might see her daughter; persuading herself that as soon as he should have a view of her, he should be captivated with her eyes, and would show all possible favour. These intentions being naughty, had no good success at all, and all the pursuits of Alexandra served for nothing but to vent her passion. Herod at length returns victoriously with authentic testimonies of his justification, notwithstanding all the endeavours of Cleopatra: God reserving this Parricide for a Cain's life which concluded with a wretched, and fearful death. His mother and sister failed not to present him forthwith at his arrival with a model of their mystery, and to acquaint him with the intention that Alexandra had to put herself under the power of the Romans. Salome, who envied Mariam beyond measure, dipping her serpentine tongue in the gall of calumny, accused her of secret familiarity with joseph: Wherefore Herod who was extremely jealous, thought instantly to cure it, and taking Mariam apart, asked her whence proceeded that amity which she had contracted with joseph. The most  Queen, whose patience was never vanquished, showed by her eyes, by the posture of her countenance, and speeches that she was so stung with this black slander that her perfidious husband did easily perceive how fare she was from such thoughts; and (in truth) being ashamed of himself for proposing such Questions unto her, he craved pardon, shedding hot tears, and thanking her for proving so faithful to his bed, and making a thousand protestations of immortal affection. The good Lady somewhat displeased to see so much hypocrisy, told him covertly, that indeed he bore real love to his wife who would needs have her company in the other world. Herod presently apprehended at half a word what she meant, and entered into such distemper and violent passion, that he seemed to be distracted, tearing his beard & hair, and crying joseph had betrayed him, and that now he must needs say he had too much intelligence with Mariam; otherwise no man could be so simple and sottish as to reveal so important a secret. Hereupon he commands joseph to be killed outright for a sacrifice to his return, not permitting him to come in his sight, nor would he hearken to one word of excuse. It did want but a little that he did not then fell down more sacrifices to his wide insatiate cruelty, and did not put Mariam too to death; but the assured proof of her innocence, and the impatient heat of his love suspended the blow, that he might make his anger (like nimble lightning) fly further off, which he discharged on Alexandra, whom he did confine for a ●●me, keeping her asunder from Queen Mariam her daughter, taking it now for certain that it was in her forge that all the machinations, & conspiracies for his ruin were framed and filled.  
Not long after, Herod saw himself embarked in another business no less dangerous than the former. M. Anthony (who ever lent him his shoulder to support him) had a long time contended against the fortune of Augustus Caesar, and was quite discomfited in the battle of Actium, ending his hopes and life with a sad Catastrophe. This accident astonished the Tyrant more than can be imagined, seeing the prop whereon he leaned, ruined: His affairs which he thought were now well knit, ripe again in a night, and had him for an adversary who was so forward in his design for the Empire of the whole world. His friends and foes deemed him one of the forlorn hope: He that escaped so many shipwrecks doth not a whit despair in this extremity, he takes a resolution to go, and find Caesar who was then at Rhodes, and to cast himself at his feet: but before he sets out on's journey, he commits one most barbarous and inhuman act. Hyrcanus' the right and lawful King, who by his gentleness and facility of nature first raised Antipater, then saved Herod's life, promoting him to the Kingdom to the prejudice of his own blood, was yet surviving in a decrepit age laden with years & cares: for he was passed fourscore years. The Tyrant fearing that he alone being left of the Royal blood, should be restored to the throne by the requests of the people, who did tender his innocence, seeing him now at the brinck of the grave flings him in, expelling (by brutish violence) that soul which he was ready to surrender up to nature. This was judged mere savage cruelty without any colour of justice, wherewith this abominable monster ever used to palliate his actions: others writ the death of Hyrcanus to have been hastened by this occasion.  
Alexandra (who could not shake off her ambition but with her skin) seeing that Herod went on a voyage, whence, peradventure, he was never to return, boards her father Hyrcanus, and shows him that the time was come wherein God would make his venerable old age to flourish anew in Royal purple: The Tyrant is entangled in such nets and labyrinths that he shall never get himself out again. Fortune knocks at Hyrcanus his door to render him the Diadem which is due unto him by right of inheritance, and taken from him by tyranny. It remained that he would but help himself as much as in him lay, and his good fortune would work out the rest. Hyrcanus' replies; daughter the time is come that I should rather meditate on my grave then a Royal Throne. You know what esteem I made of greatness being yet in an age, and condition when I had all reason to entertain them, yet I have reno●●ac't them with a freewill, preferring my rest before all the Diadems in the world. Now that I am in the Haven would you have me launch again into the tempestuous Seas: Forbear such fond speeches (good daughter) I have beheld but too much miseries, talk to me of a Sepulchre, and not of a Sceptre. Alexandra replies, that since he did not pretend to the life, nor the fortune of the living, yet notwithstanding that he ought not to neglect his own blood, that he should give way to equity, and he needed not to disquiet himself, but only to write a few lines to Malchus Lieutenant of Arabia, and he would supply him with money & sufficient forces, as much as he had need of. Lastly, he was bound in conscience, and by the law of nature to preserve his daughter and Grand child from the teeth of this Tiger. She did so ply his ears with these & the like reasons, that at length he yielded to her, and treats with Malchus, that he should levy for him anumber of horse. The Letters are delivered into the hands of one D●sitheus (a Cousin of this joseph which Herod had caused lately to be slain) for to be carried withal safety; but this perfidious slave betraying the blood of his allies, and the fortune of Hyrcanus, instead of carrying faithfully the Letter to Malchus, delivers it into the hands of Herod, who bids him go and deliver the said Letter, and bring back the answer to him for to discover further the countenance, and intention of the Arabian. He failed not to promise Hyrcanus' all assistance, inviting him with all kindness to come over speedily unto him. Herod having discovered the whole matter, calls for Hyrcanus, and asketh him if he had received any Letters from Malchus? Yea (quoth he) but they contained nothing but compliments: the other demands, if with these Letters he did not receive some presents? He confessed that Malchus (indeed) had made him a present of four horses to draw his Coach. Hereupon without any further form of proceeding, the Tyrant commands the reverend old man to be murdered, dying with blood the hoary head of him who had been his Nurse, Protector, Father & all. Then after he had caged up Alexandra, and Mariam in some place of strength under the guard of joseph his Treasurer, & Soheme the I●urean, he goes straight ways towards Rhodes, committing the whole charge of his Realm to his brother Pheroras. The History makes no mention of the laments of the Queen and her Mother upon the death of Hyrcanus: 'tis credible that all was concealed from them a long time, being kept in close prison, having no communication with any body. Alexandra champt upon the bit with much impatience: Mariam did bear out the tediousness of this captivity with noble constancy, & sought by all means to addulce her Mothers' discontents. All her comfort was in God, for what else could she speak of, or think on? My God (quoth she) thou steepest all thy creatures for me in wormwood: If I have at any time loved them and sucked any sweet from the world, thou gavest me for one ounce of Honey a pound of Gall, Ever since I laid the Diadem on my head, I have felt nothing but thorns, and sovereignty was to me but a gorgeous and noble slavery. My God, when shall we behold that joyful day to shine upon us, which we do each day wait for, that shall dry up our tears, and bursting the bonds of our captivity, shall send us into Abraham's bosom, and into the freedom of thine elect? These poor Ladies remained there in durance among horrid walls without seeing any thing but rocks, & wild solitude, which seemed to retain some compassion of their griefs: they knew not how the world went, much less how any of the affairs of the Court stood: Every time the keeper came to visit them, they expected no other tidings but the doom of death.  
The Guard at the beginning shown some severity in their looks, & were reserved in their speeches, & all seemed full of horror, fear, & sad silence. But there is no iron but mollifies at last in the fire. Soheme, visiting them the oftener according to his commission, felt the rays that issued from Mariamnes eyes so sharp, that they pierced his heart with relenting compassion; judging it too harsh dealing, to detain a Queen captive, who by the liberal endowments which heaven had enriched her person with, could captivate all hearts. He gins to carry a more benign aspect towards her, and Mariam seeing him one day in a good mood took occasion to speak to him with boldness, and to ask him some news from the other world.  
Soheme (saith the Princess) you see us now in a very woeful estate, and our personages, but a day will come (perhaps) when this tempest will be blown over: misfortunes do not always attend at the same haven; you know what I am, and that in showing me favour you shall not oblige an impotent much less an ingrateful creature: only give us some hint of Herod's purpose in detaining us here, and in what case the affairs are now abroad. Soheme at these words felt his heart sorely shaken with a mosT fierce assault: on th'one side represented to his thoughts the revenge of Herod, which he observed lately in the example of joseph, on the other side he was so touched with commiseration at this noble Princess, that this frozen heart began now to melt and to break forth at his eyes. Mariam seeing him perplexed, and at a stand: Speak boldly Soheme, this shall no way prejudice thee being locked up in deep secrecy, & it may do us much service, for the safety of our estate. Soheme imagining that either Herod would never return in the quality of a King, or that being in the protection of Mariam, he might easily purchase his pardon, unfolds his heart and tells her.  
Madam I commit my secrets, & life into your power; also I desire to dye the death before that ever I should come to execute the barbarous command that Herod gave me, in case the affairs where of he now treats with Caesar, should not succeed according to his expectation. And what was it (quoth Madam) Madam I tremble only to think on it. 'Tis a matter that concerns your life. My friend (replied Mariam) this is his ordinary style: so ran the mandate to his uncle joseph in his first voyage. But are there no means to get out hence? Soheme makes answer, that Pheroras Herod's brother had charge of the Realm, & that (as extremely jealous & mistrusting) he has a heedful eye, left by some new device you contrive your escape. Well, die than we must (quoth the Princess:) to what side shall I turn myself? I see nothing but angers and the Image of death, with which I begin now to be familiarly acquainted. Soheme comforted her as much as lay in his power; but the stopping her ears thence forward to all charms of worldly comfort dilated her heart to receive some from heaven; purifying her vexed soul day by day in a Bath of tears, & the smarting furnace of her afflictions. O the providence of the Almighty! 'Tis very true what the Scripture saith, Thy paths are in the deep, and thy tracks on the waters, who can discover such dark footsteps! When this most chaste, and innocent Queen in an obscure prison swims every day for a good part of her life in her own tears.  
Herod being embarked (as yet all bloody with the massacre committed on the person of Hyrcanus) finds the Seas and Winds, men and opportunity all propitious to his affairs. This Proteus whose wit was pliant for all adventures, seeing that he could not dissemble the services he had done to M. Anthony, still prostrating himself, like a fawning Cur at the feet of his fortune, intends to put a fair gloss upon them, and cover them with the mantle of virtue. He knew that Augustus was a Prince well born, generous and just, and that he would employ faithful servants in this new motion of businesses which he had them in hand; he disguiseth himself under the shadow of virtue, and cheats under the colour of constancy, and pretext of fidelity. Lo now he presents himself to the Emperor & bespeaks his Highness in these terms.  
Great Emperor,  
BEhold my Person and my Crown at your Highness' feet; 'tis reason good that all should rise by your greatness, since that God would commit the Empire of the universe to your hands. As for me I cannot feign, and belly what I have been, no more would I dissemble what I ought and should be. I have hitherto ('tis true) stood for my noble friend M. Anthony, and if he had given ear to me as he did to Cleopatra his Mistress, you should have found (Caesar) how much I was your enemy, and his friend; but this unhappy Prince being gulled and besotted by that creature took money from me, & advise from her to ruinated (by so doing, his own fortune, & to build yours upon their ruins: I have followed him even to the margin of the grave but did not enter in, in regard my death could no way advantage him; he is in that condition that I can do nothing but send him the tribute of my tears; To you (great Caesar) are due the services which I do tender with a fire & ready heart, if you be pleased to accept of them on the condition not to constrain me to think or speak any thing injuriously to the memory of my ancient Master, whom being not able to serve, I ought nevertheless to respect, and love after death.  
Augustus liked well of this bold language, and deemed that this man was of good proof & mettle to make a good servant of, not seeing the subtlety of the Fox, measuring all for his own interest. He takes the Crown and places it on the head of Herod, saying, I would you should live peaceably in your dominions, and be but as loyal to me as you have been to M. Anthony.  
Herod after this so lucky an access, ceased not to set himself forward to the good liking of Augustus, seeking all occasions so to do, but most of all in that voyage of the Emperor made to Egypt, where he did continually give assistance and serve in many good offices. This business so happily sped, he returns in triumph to Jerusalem with the astonishment of all the world. This was it that the virtuous Queen Mariam did protract a life for ever to be a sacrifice for the solemnity of her bloody husband's triumphs.  
Let us now see how this Lamp was extinguished, we cannot expect any ill sent, the fair qualities of her life did accompany her to her death. Assoon as Herod was entered within the chief City, he goes to salute the Queen his wife whom he had caused to be set at liberty, being his affairs were in safety, & brings her the first tidings of the happy success of his voyage, he was so swollen with the conceit of his good fortunes, that he could hardly contain himself within his skin, and the love of so amiable an object as was then present after so many dangers exhausted, did let his tongue lose to much boasting & vain superfluous speeches, thinking that by his discourse he did much improve his honour and reputation. Mariam pined away upon her legs with fretfulness to hear his vanities, and as she was free and genuine in all her carriage, she shown how little pleasure she took in his Rhodomantades, which his joy did heighten to a degree of folly. He imagining this at first to be but a fit of Melancholy which would soon vanish into smoke, did cheer her up the more with words, showing more Courtship then usual. Among these caresses, the poor Lady breathes out a sigh or two, calling to mind the secret command lately given to Soheme. He well perceived by her countenance that she was somewhat discontented, and entered into a suspicion that Soheme also had the flux in the tongue as well as joseph. He knew not then how to compose his countenance, so much was he moved within himself. Love, choler, and jealousy did incessantly hurry, and disquiet him: he could not be angry as he would, & could not choose but love whom he had still impotently loved. This haughty spirit that could never stoop to any, but to deceive, was ashamed to see himself thus disarmed, and become as it were a Zany in amorous dalliances not ordinary to his nature; then seeing that these subtleties did not succeed, he torments himself the more, and thinks now to flourish with the sword, but love was so predominant over wrath, & withheld the stroke: Hereupon he retires, shaking his head, and muttering I know not what between his teeth, as cursing that love which made him merciful in despite of his inclination. But alas there is no hatred to that of women against their own kind, when a jealousy once seizeth on their brains! Cipre an Arabian by nation, the mother of Herod, & Salome his sister, seeing him so passionate failed not to blow the coals with their tongues, and to kindle them with impudent slanders which the Tyrant gave credit to in part, but yet could not resolve to strike the stroke. It was a long time in agitation ere any thing could be concluded upon; at last there arrives an unhappy day, when at noontide having withdrawn himself to his privy chamber he sends for Mariam, who presently comes upon the message: But Herod being minded to a game in bed, she would not consent thereto, telling him the law of nature forbade her to lie with a man that had murdered her Father and her Brother, meaning Alexander, who by the pursuit of Herod had been overthrown by the Romans, and her brother Aristobulus so cruelly stifled in the waters. Here josephus the Historian, after he hath so highly extolled Mariam as a chaste Queen and truly endowed with an inviolable faith (for these be his words) taxes her with a little disdain which was (as he saith) grown up with her nature, in that she did disrespect the caresses of her husband. But he that would well ponder how Herod had entreated her nearest kindred, massacring them most indignly, & how that holding the Sceptre from her house he did not esteem of her as of a Queen, but as of a poor victim, which he caused to be shut up, commanding it to be beheaded whensoever he ran in jeopardy of his life, for fear that any other should enjoy her after his death; he shall find that the Lady had sufficient reason to give him this answer. Nevertheless Herod that could not brook such freedom of speech, was so incensed at these words that he went near then to do her a mischief; his eyes sparkling with anger, his voice rough, and his hands lift up to commit violence. As he walked up & down in his chamber in a chafe, skirmishing thus with his choler, Mariam standing by without any farther reply, treacherous Salome thought it now a convenient time to give vent to her malicious project; she sends a servant that had pawned his faith and credit, and whom she a long time had been instructing for to make him depose a slander as wicked as ridiculous, which was, that Mariam having an intention to give her husband a philter (or love potion) she addressed herself to him, who being then the King's Taster and sought to work him to do this feat with many rewards, and promises, which he would never give care unto. Moreover he was so taught his lesson, that if, peradventure Herod demanded the ingredients of the Philtre, he should answer without farther hesitation that the Queen had the contriving of it, and that she required of him only but to administer it. This miscreant enters the chamber in cold blood, and makes deposition most seriously: whereat Herod, who was all fire already, being more inflamed then ever, thought with himself that he needed not wonder any more whence this impatience of love should proceed. He commands presently an Eunuch of the Queen, one of the most trusty of them to be attached, thinking that nothing passed without his knowledge, he puts him to the rack, insomuch that his body being already weak enough, not able to bear out the violence of the tortures, and on the other side having nothing to speak against his good Mistress, in whose conversation he never knew any thing but what was honourable and honest; he was kept a great while in this miserable plight, at length he lets fly a word, saying that he had seen Soheme talking a long time in private with the Queen, as though he made some discovery and that since that time he well perceived that she was much dejected. Herod had no sooner heard this speech, but 'tis enough, saith he, take him off and call Soheme.  
Soheme knew nothing of this that passed, he lived in great content, having lately attained to some good place of command by the Queen's recommendation. He was quite astonished when he saw them lay hands on him and compel him to confess the discourse he had with Mariam when she was in prison: he utterly denying the matter is forthwith slain. This day Herod retires into his Cabinet, drinking by full draughts the gall and venom of his fatal anger, meditating in his heart on the fury which he should make to burst out shortly in public: for without allowing any truce to his labouring brain, he assembles his Privy Council, and sends for his Queen, who exprected nothing less than such arraignment. This monster that studied always to set a colour of justice on his most unreasonable actions, begins a long Oration which he had indicted at his leisure, and as every man stood like a Ghost struck with fear and filence, expecting the issue of this Tragedy (only bold Mariam stood armed with an undaunted constancy for all events) he speaks to them in these terms.  
It seems God would counterbalance my prosperous affairs abroad with the unhappiness of domestic evils: I have found safety among the winds and tempests in irksome voyages I have undertaken, and in many perilous achievements that I have brought about, to find in my return a tempest in mine own Court. You are not ignorant how that I have fostered all the house of Hyrcanus in my bosom in those deplored times, when it was at a low ebb, & near confusion; in recompense whereof as if I did sit upon the eggs of a Serpent, so I have found but hissing and stinging. God knows how oft I have dissembled injuries, and how oft I have cured them with patience, but yet I cannot bring my heart to so obdurate and brawny a temper, but it is ever & anon stirred up and scarified with some new sores. Behold there my wife, who following his Mother's steps, is ever bend to trouble my repose. As soon as I was returned from my late dangerous voyage, as you know, I brought her tiding of the happy success to my affairs, she showing how little esteem she made of my estate and person, did hear me with such a coy and disdainful carriage, that notwithstanding all the Courtship I made to her, I could not draw from her pride one good word, nay she was not content with this, she proceeds to open mischiefs, and bloody machinations, which I had rather (in honour of your ears) pass over in silence, & come to effects. Behold there one of my faithful servants, that doth testify how that she had suborned him to give me a Philtre, that is, poison for to giddy my brains, and take away my life, which God doth still preserve to make a recognizance of all the good offices which all in general and you in particular have done me: So you see that I am arrived home with my temples girt with Laurels, honoured and favoured by the most renowned men of the world, to be the shuttlecock of a woman's malice, and the But of her treachery. I could not win her by ardency of love, or any good turns, no more than if she had been a Lioness. Consult among you what you ought to do, I deliver her to the power of your justice, being not (in this case) to follow mine own judgement, that posterity may know that mine own interests come always below the truth, to which I have taught them ever to stoop and bend the knee.  
Herod in speaking these words would seem to be very calm conjuring down his passion, and curbing his nature which was pliable enough, but yet his choler so wrought and fumed up, that the Council soon discovered his malady, & that he had a full purpose to exterminate the Queen. They summon her to answer upon the sudden without any Advocate. This glorious Amazon, a young Imp of the Macchabees, and heir of their heroic patience, being presented before this crew & conventicle of malignant spirits, 28 years before the coming of our Saviour in the flesh, did then what may instruct posterity most illustriously by her example. No man ever observed an impatient word to sally out of her mouth, she used not any word of recrimination, or charged back any with their own crimes, and being able to lay before the Council the many outrages she had suffered in her own person, and in her kindred, she swallowed all wrongs with more than humane patience only touching the main Article of her accusation, she said that for the draught or potion that was objected to her, 'twas a thing in the judgement of all that would confider it well, farthest off any thing from her thoughts, seeing that she had always dreaded the love of Herod more than his hate: moreover that she made not any account of her life wherein she had endured but too many afflictions, much less of the Court where she never drew any air of delight, and that if they would oppress her innocence by false witness, it was most easy to overcome her, no subject more obvious and probable. It was most easy to take the Diadem off her head and her head off her shoulders, but it would be no easy task to take from her the reputation of a Lady of Honour which she held in Capite from her ancestors, & which she would carry along with her to the dust.  
The poor soul was as a  Lamb in the jaws of a Lion, and in the fangs of many Wolves: They proceed to judgement and all proceed according to Herod's propension. They knew it was his will to rid her out of his way, that was sufficient. There was not one found that had the boldness to stand up in the defence of the innocent Queen, or to assuage the passion of Herod in any manner. Each man's conscience was clogged either with crimes, or timorousness; whence it happened that these impious judges did more in favour of the Tyrant than he would have done, for they all concluded to adjudge her to death: he was struck with some horror at the first, as bloody a man as he was, & commanded that she should be committed to safe custody within the Court, suspending the execution, thinking perhaps thereby to make her the more tractable to his humour. But enraged Salome that had stirred up this tempest not willing to leave a thing half done draws near to the King her brother, & makes remonstrance, that such birds were not to be kept in cages that this was a business which concerned his Crown and Life, and that all now tended to a revolt, if he delayed this execution he would hasten his own ruin and the estates both: whereupon Herod let slip this speech, Why let her be taken away; and immediately a Tribune was dispatched, to the good Queen, who brings her news of her last hour's approach, saluting her with all reverence, Madam the King calls for you, and you are presently to die: she nothing moved with the message replies, let us go (friend) outright, Herod cannot be so speedy but he seems slow to me: and when she had thus said she advances forward, and marches straight to the place of execution, without changing her colour, with a clear countenance which drew tears from all spectators to crown her patience. As she was ready to receive the fatal stoake, Alexander a her Mother, her companion in Prison, the Cabinet of her thoughts, that both seemed to have but one heart intwo breasts betraying her blood, nature, and all piety for some mischievous reason of estate that she might not be suspected of Herod as though she had consented to her daughter's perverseness, comes there to tax her with horrible injuries, and she went near to drag the poor Princess by the hair of the head, and to hale her along the pavement, telling her in extreme rage, that she was an untoward peevish dame, and that she did well deserve death for that she would not agree with so good a husband for the supporting of their common fortunes. See here the greatest indignity that can be conceived! In such an accident there is no better honey, nor a worse sting than that of bees, and no better amity, nor worse enmity then that of kindred. Patiented Mariam did not speak a word, not so much as, Good Mother permit my soul to departed in peace which is now upon my lips ready to take her flight, and trouble not my last and eternal rest; but with a generous silence sealing her mouth to all replies, and opening her heart towards God the only witness of her innocence, being thus indignly handled, she proffers her neck to the headsman for to seal with her blood the last testimonies of her patience. josephus speaks not so expressly of the manner of her death as being a matter without controversy that she was executed according to the ordinary manner of those times, which was to behead all delinquents of such rank. This fair breaking of the day which as yet carried comfort and healing in his wings to the poor afflicted souls that were in this horrible confusion of Tyranny, was then obscured and quite put out with her blood: the eyes of all the throng that did assist at this rueful tragedy being bathed in tears did behold her in her red lips. When they saw this countenance (armed with royal Majesty) so courageously to affront death which makes the boldest heart to tremble, and her alabaster neck stretched out and stooped to the glittering axe to be severed from her fair body, a cold horror ran through the shivering joints, and bones of all the crowd, and there was no rock so hard but would have sweated watery drops of tears to ransom her blood from being spilt. Her head was severed from her body, and her body from her soul, but this will never be separated from her God, who rears to her memory an eternal trophy of patience. Her trunk lay cold, and extended upon the place, and the voice of innocent blood, which now mounted up to pierce the Clouds, & demand revenge from the protector of innocence, was incontinently heard to good purpose, as you shall e'er long understand.  
This faithless husband that had so barbarously handled a Princess so worthy of all respect, was soon as she had yielded up the ghost as if he had been struck with an invisible dart, cried out of grief, and said that he had given a blow that deserved God's anger & vengeance; then with fearful howling he invokes incessantly the memory and name of the deceased Queen, to whom he could not by his plaints restore what he had taken away by the executioners hatchet: whither soever he went, he was still accompanied with the Image of his crime; black furies revelling in his conscience, & terrifying him with sights and fearful apparitions: he tried all manner of feasting, dancing, and delights to expel melancholy; but it increased the more, in so much that he was constrained to abandon the helm of government, though he had been active and indefatigable in this exercise: he became at first a dotard, and all stupid, not knowing what he did; for sometime at dinner he speaks to his attendants, and bids them call the Queen to him, as if she had been still alive, they harkened unto him without returning a word, & all the Court was struck with silence and amazement; at last he being not able to endure the palace walls, as though they did upbraid his cruelty, he goes and haunts the groves & uncouth places of retreat like a savage, thereby contracting such a strange disease in his brains, and so violent a frenzy, that the Physicians saw no way to remedy it, telling him freely that it was a blow from heaven: God who did reserve him for further calamities would not vouchsafe to take away his life at that present. That wicked Mother Alexandra that so outragioussly scolded at her daughter on the scaffold, went shortly after the way of all flesh, tasting the bitterness of death but losing the glory of it. In the rear of this, followed a pestilence which swept away many of Herod's counsellors of state; and all these were but the scourges of heaven to avenge this so lamentable death, but never enough lamented. Mariam from her chaste bed left Herod two sons, Alexander and Aristobulus who were very young, capable to endure much more in aftertimes, but as then incapable to understand their present miseries. Herod for to take away from them the resentments of this horrid fact, and to raise them both together by good education to the glory of his Sceptre, packs them away in good time, and sends them to Rome to be trained up in Augustus Casar's Court, held at that time the Academy of Kings, and the most renowned School of the world. After some years expired he took a desire to make a journey into Italy for to salute Caesar, and by that means to see his sons, whom he found very well improved, and ingeniously brought up, and so complete, that he would feign with the good leave of Augustus bring them along with him back to judea, and so he did: These young Princes returning to jerusalem with Herod, did ravish all the people with admiration; they were of a very comely proportion very nimble and active, and well exercised in feats of arms, well spoken, affable, and as much worthy of love as their Father of hatred. Men beheld them as they do the two stars of Castor and Pollux after a tempest; they filled all with joy, and seemed already to have won hearts enough to win them crowns according to their merit, yet those that called to mind the usage of their Mother Mariam could not contain their tears.  
Pheroras, Herod's brother, and his sister Salome, who had both of them a hand in the murder of the innocent Queen, entered into such apprehensions that cannot be expressed, seeing that the blood which they had spilt was one day to rule over them: They began thenceforth tartly to traduce them, and convey (by some creatures suborned thereto) many reports to Herod's cares, which were in effect to inform, how that the Princes his sons (in regard of what had happened touching their mother) were very averse from their Father, & would never beinduced to affect him again. Herod who was yet warm with the heat of his affection towards them, gave no credit to the slander; for seeing them now upon the march towards ripes years, he bethought him how to match them honourably, sueing for his son Alexander the daughter of Archilaus King of Capadocia named Glaphira, which was granted him, & for Aristobulus he was betrothed to the daughter of Salome, his cousin German; thus cementing the breaches & enmities of his house. Alexander and Aristobulus did converse together very freely, and spoke all that lay upon their hearts, talking of the death of their mother, in such a manner, that they shown that they were sensible of it: Pheroras, and Salome very close and malignant spies, did not cease to toll them into dangerous ipeeches, and all that they had spoken (either through vanity, or some fit of anger, or through presumption of secrecy) was presently reported to Herod's ears. Crafty Salome yet beating sway over her new married daughter, who was a simple harmless creature, did shrife her punctually, to know of her what her husband did use to talk of in the privacy of their mutual embraces. She forth with related all the speeches, which these poor Princes had spoken in simplicity or merriment, namely, that Aristobulus bragged, that the Empire appertained to the issue of Mariam as the lineage of a true Queen: as for the sons of Herod, they were sowed abroad, and dispersed in good number (for he had some nine or ten wives) so that he made most of them advocates in petty Towns, and it went well with them if they had learned to read and write; she added moreover, that Alexander spoke in a bravado, that he was somewhat of another mould then his Father, yet notwithstanding when he conversed with him, seeing him of a jealous humour he kept himself within his scabbard, not daring freely to express himself, for fear of casting shadows of his ability; that going to hunt, and walk with Herod, he used to contract and wind in his body, that he might not seem bigger than his father: If he went to draw a bow, he did it very bungler-like, of purpose to free himself from all envy. This was a main piece of wisdom to do so, but the trick of a very novice to talk so much, though words as innocently spoken, as sinisterly and captiously interpreted; and above all a very simple error, to commit their secrets to a woman, whose breast (for the most part) is as fit to guard any thing entrusted to its custody, as a five to carry water. When Pheroras, and Salome had diligently plied the ears of Herod with these petty informations, seeing some suspicion to plant, & take rooting in his mind, and that the father's affection towards his sons did wax cold, they strike in opportunely, and advise him seriously to take heed of his sons, that they were in labour with some great exploit, and spoke loudly, That all those that had any hand in the shedding their mother's blood, should not bear the punishment off in the other world: For indeed as they were harping on that harsh string, such like speeches did escape from them. Herod was exceedingly astonished at this freedom, as thinking it necessary to repress their boldness with some counterprise. What doth he to take down the spirits of these Princes? He goes, and takes him one of his other sons called Antipater, (begot upon one Dorid a woman of mean rank, and who was afterward shamefully banished the Court) he hoists him in a moment to the top of the wheel, not that he purposed to leave him there, but he would have him serve as a Checkmate for the sons of Mariam, judging him a fit instrument for that end: For indeed this Antipater was a dark, sullen, and malicious spirit, who held much after the Father. When he saw himself on an instant so highly mounted, he resolved not to descend, but with the loss of his skin, & to share of the Realm as well as the rest, by some device or other. Well, to that end he fits the Scene, and conforms himself to all fashions for to get into credit with Herod, (who from that time began to like him very well) and he failed not under hand to put on foot afresh those accusations, to get surer footing in this new preferment, that had been commenced against the sons of Mariam. And when he had fling the stone, he drew in his arm so neatly, that he seemed not to have any way stirred in it; for he did always bear a most respectful carriage towards Alexander, and Aristobulus, as towards his Masters, espcially when he caused those false reports to be instilled afresh into his Father's ears, by some creatures well taught and rewarded. He feigned also, with a borrowed modesty to take their cause in hand, but he excused them so slily to his own advantage, that he brought them within greater suspicion than before. King Herod for to bring him into some esteem and authority, thought it were not amiss to send him to Rome for a time, which he did, giving him a flourishing attendance, and an infinite deal of recommendations. Here he sat a brooding more ingenious mischiefs, & from hence pursued his plots more closely, & with more art. In a letter to his father, he wrote that he had discovered at Rome strange plots, that he should beware of his brethren, Alexander and Aristobulus; for they had every where engrossed the hearts of the people, and that their design was no other, then to shorten his days, & to dispossess him of his kingdom. This had the more colour, for that the young Princes being not a little moved with their late rejection or degradation could not dissemble their discontents, and did daily cast about some words, which were gathered up by the spies of Pheroras, and Salome, that no fillable fell to the earth. It grieved Herod to see that having composed all in peace abroad, the fire had caught hold on his own house: and thence forward he had a mind to seize upon his sons, but he would not make any attempt upon their persons without Caesar's command, to whom he referred all, both for the expression of his obeisance, and for the safety of his estate. After he had meditated on the matter with himself very carefully and seriously, (for it did much grieve his heart whence all his Counsels did spring, & had their first rise,) he resolved to bring his sons to Rome, & there to accuse them before Caesar. All along the way from Palestine to Italy, did he carry his thoughts so close, that his looks did never betray them, nor did he show any symptoms of distaste towards his Sons, lest he should cast some shadows of suspicion. Being arrived at Rome, he understands that Caesar was then in Aquilegia, whither he posts without delay, bringing his two sons along, who were by the Emperor (who was as a father to them) very courteously received with all demonstrations of affection. In the interim this wretched father, espying his opportunity begs from Caesar a day of audience, in a business (as he said) of great consequence, which he granted him, & he came upon the very instant agreed upon, bringing with him the two delinquents, who intended nothing as then, but to laugh, & pass the time with their old acquaintance. When they were in the midst of a glorious assembly (which were of purpose there met) Herod fetching a deep sigh, addresseth his speech to the Emperor.  
You now behold (Great Caesar) a King happy enough by your Grace, and favour, but a most unhappy Father in the disgraces, & ill fortunes of my house: if nature had denied me issue, fortune would have saved me much misery, and trouble. It doth much grieve me to soil your ears (renowned Caesar) with the recital of such ungraciousness; but necessity which hath no law compels me, & your justice which protects all Laws, invited me to it. Lo here my two Sons (unnatural Sons) who had the honour to be brought up at your feet, after that they had received from me all favour, that might be expected from a king by your goodness potent enough, & from a father by his own nature most indulgent, betraying the glory of their education received at your hands, and forgetting their blood and nature received from me, they have attempted a crime which I am afraid to utter. I endured much for them, add their welfare, and I enjoy a kingdom now a fair term of years, which I have purchased with so much sweat, and turmoil; I have opened the gate of honour for them to enter at after my decease, when a natural death should close up mine eyes; but they would needs enter in at the gate of parricide, laying ambush for my life, for to take away the spoil soakened in my blood. I have them here at your feet, not retaining in mine own wrongs any right of a King, or father, but what your justice will think fit to ordain, and prescribe: Yet (Create Caesar) I must beg of you this request, that you would grant my old age, which you have so much honoured, some rest in mine own house, & to rescue me from the hands of these Parricides. Also I do not think it any way expedient, that such graceless, & ungrateful Sons, that have trod under feet the Laws of God and men, should any longer look the Sun in the face, which should both witness, and upbraid their folly.  
The man spoke this with wonderful vehemency, so that he did amaze all the assembly; and the poor youths which had as much innocence, as simplicity, seeing themselves thus battered, & overborne with a tempest of words, which they did never presage, made their eyes to weep an Apology, & they fall a crying in good earnest: they strove to recover their speech, fearing that their silence would prove them guilty; but the more they laboured to vent their thoughts, the more did their sobs interrupt their course.  
Augustus Caesar, a judicious and humane Prince, saw well by their demeanour, and countenance, that the young men were guilty of more misery, than mischief, and casting a gracious look upon them Courage my Youths, saith he to them, stand firm, answer all by leisure, let nothing dismay, or trouble you. All the Court did now pity them, and Herod too showed in his countenance, that he was a little moved; so eloquent are our natural strength and arms Alexander seeing the eyes of all to cast propitious, and favourable beams upon them, wakens his spirits, and breaking through a throng of sighs (as he was pretty well tongued) he spoke as followeth: My Lord and Father, your Majesty hath not (I trust) brought us so far before the Altars of mercy, for to make us a sacrifice to vengeance; we are at the knees of Caesar, as in the temple of clemency, whither being conducted by your consent, & command, I must needs say, that as your words were rough, and bitter, so are your proceed most faite and gentle. If calumny could have so altered your good nature, as to have wrought you to assail our lives, to the disadvantage, and hazard of our innocence, this you might have done in Palestine, as a Father, and as a King, the doom and execution was in your own power: but God permitted it, that you have led us to the court of Caesar, not to leave our heads here, which you have destinated to a Crown, but to bring them back victoriously triumphing over detractio. It is a strange thing, to invent so erroneous a crime against persons of our quality & reputation, without alleging why, or how. Here is no speech of any letters, poisons, complots, treacheries, Ministers subomed to practise them, only we are proclaimed Parricides, and the proofs left behind, not any produced: if this sufficeth, there will not be found such exalted innocence in the world, which slander will not dare to fasten his teeth upon. Our enemies, who of a long time have been weaving this web, say nothing, but that we have age and courage enough to perform this, & that we would one day attempt to avenge our Mother Mariamnes death. As for the first reason, who sees not how weak it is? If there needs but age, & courage to commit a murder, this were to make the whole surface of the world a 〈◊〉 and to overwhelm it with a deluge of blood; to make all parents jealous, & mistrustful, and all children criminal. For the second reason, which touched out deceased Mother, she hath left us at those years, that we cannot as yet bemoan, or apprehend well our miseries. Since we have outlived our childhood, we were never desirous to pry into your cabinet counsels, to examine your justice: Her fault to do ill should not have made us the more bold, but the more heedful, and studious to do well. We bestowed our tears upon her only, not to bewail her death, but to satisfy our sorrows, seeing that our enemies ceased not to disquiet her urn, whole blood they spilt. Father, if our tears which did issue forth by the command of nature, behold crimes at your bar, where shall we find any safety, but in your justice? Never among these our complaints did there escape a hard, or irreverent speech against yourself, but indeed against those, who abuse your authority to the ruin of yours. We have no reason to hate your life, but to love it; and by so much the more, in that you have judged us capable, & worthy to inherit your Crown, before all our brethren. You have given us all the ensigns of sovereignty, all the honour we can expect; so that to demand more were to beg a Licence to undo ourselves: Why should we seek a Kingdom by a murder, which is to fall to us with your consent, and good liking, that so Heaven, Earth, and See as conspiring with Caesar might bar those gates againstus, to the which we would have made a key tempered in the blood of our Father. Your Majesty (it may be) hath begot us more unfortunate, then now it were expedient for your estate; but we shall never be so foolishly impious, as to commit a villainy that would eternally ruin us without recovery. Most honoured Father, expel that fiend of suspicion which hath possessed you; or if it please you to entertain it longer we will both part with our lives, whereof we are not so tenderly enamoured, that we would retain them, with the displeasure of him that gave them.  
This speech attended with the tears of the young Princes did ravish all the Auditors, and as they saw them both with dejected eyes, expecting the sentence of the judge, each man burned with a desire to stand up in their justification, Caesar casts his eyes on Herod, who shown himself to be much moved with pity, & would have wished he had never thought on such an accusation; for indeed this accusation did put him much out os conceit, and credit with the assembly, and made him blame his credulity. Augustus not willing to shame him, pronounced that (in truth) the children were much to blame, that they had any way molested him; but as for the crime intended, he ought to raze it out of his Register.  
The young Princes were well bred, and brought up hitherto; it remained that they should live henceforward in good correspondence, and renew the sacred bond of nature, which could not be broken by so good a father, nor by the children, who did promise so much & so fair for the future. This being spoken, Herod embraces his Sons one after another with weeping eyes, which drew tears even from those that were no way interessed in it.  
After many Leuvoyes, & compliments, behold them now on their return, together with their father, and brother Antipater, who did act (though behind the curtain) all this fair Tragedy; nevertheless he did captivate them with his courtesies, rejoicing and congratulating their good success, as if his heart had blazed in joyful fires. So works the tyranny of dissimulation in Courts until that God one day take off the mask! Being returned to jerusalem, a year did scarce run about, before that malice laid new giones, to the innocence of these poor Princes. Pheroras thought within himself to possess Alexander's head with jealousy, telling him with much secrecy, that his father Herod did wantonly sport and dally with Glaphyra, his wife, (daughter of King Archelaus) judging that this would be a powerful way to make him revolt, and set him all in a rage against his father, and so to precipitate him to his ruin. These words indeed did very senfibly touch this noble soul, that he began thence forward to observe with a jealous eye, the actions of Herod, who in truth played the minion all day with the young Princess, who was endowed with surpassing feature, but more he could not discover at all in his conversation: save the blandishments of a father in Law towards a daughter, worthy to be cherished for her many good parts. Yet notwithstanding Alexander, after he had taken in this subtle intelligence of Pheroras, turned this honey into poison, interpreting all to the worst, and was so transported therewith, that (rushing one day to his father's chamber, he declared unto him the jealousy, and suspicion that he had conceived, with many sighs, and tears of anger. Herod was much troubled with this imputation, & deeming it a thing unbefitting his person to stir in justifying himself with multitude of words, in excuse of that which wanted not any, he saith to him only, my good Son, who hath put this into thy head? The other replied. That he knew it partly, & Pheroras did assure him of it. Pheroras is presently sent for and Herod, who d●d ever u●e him like a servant, frowned upon him, as though he would have looked him dead. Thou Rakehell (quoth he) what hast thou spoken to this young man? It was not a tale which thou hast vvhispered him in the ear, but a sword thou hast armed his hand with against his father: for he doth justly not to brook acompanion of his bed, no more would I of my Realm. Ungrateful wretch should not thou have torn thy heart out of thy breast, rather than conceived such a thought of thy brother? The house was never tainted with such crimes, nor never shall, except thou pester it with thine: Pa●k, and let me see thee no more; I ordain tortures for other delinquents, but for thee (in that thou art so wicked) I leave thee to the rack of thine own conscience, not finding a fit executioner.  
Pheroras nothing amated with this noise, answered, ●hat he knew nothing, but what Salome (who was there present) had told him; as indeed it sprung from her. But the crafty Megaera incontinently crying out, and tearing her hair, said, it was a lamentable case, that she should be persecuted by all the world, only for being faithful to her brother. Herod could not choose but stand amazed to see these ruptures in his house; and he saw not in the mean while, that his bad example was the source & original of all these curses that befell it. He did nothing to Pheroras, but discard him for a time: for though he was much incensed, yet he did not storm in earnest, but against those that he thought to conspire against his estate; and Pheroras seemed to be none of those, for he was a lewd person, a libertine that had married his maid for lust, refusing a King's daughter, & all his thoughts were bend only upon pleasure. It was by others judged that this was no sufficient penance for Pheroras in such a fault, and that this might increase the defiance between the Father and his Son. Now see the reason why Antipater, who had always maintained his credit with Herod, taking hold on this occasion, gins the battery more furiously than ever, and having observed some familiarity between Alexander, and the three Eunuches, that were most entrusted with Herod's chamber, he gave intelligence under hand, that Alexander's conspiracy was all finished, & that the chiefest Eunuches about Herod's chamber were his complices here in. They are forthwith attached, & tortured. Their bodies grown effeminate with ease and delicacy, seeing themselves so rudely pinched, spoke both what they knew, and what they knew not, and after all, they could not speak any thing, but of the bravery and youthful boastings that had slipped from Alexander's mouth, as these and the like; That these Eunuches were but fools to adhere to an old dotard, who did colour his hair for to seem young, but it was bootless, his hourglass was run out, his time was past, & theirs was come: that the kingdom could not escape them, having justice, strength, and good credit to their side, yea and so many sons of Mars, men of steel, and valour, that would not fail them in time of need. Such speeches they uttered, but no such as Antipater pretended, and they spoke too much for a suspicious head. It was a misery to see this miserable Court so much dismembered, here was nothing to be heard or seen, but accusations, defiances, distrusts and tortures. Every man looked one upon the other, and thought he had no other way of security, but to prevent his companion. They depose each day many ridiculous and improbable things that took no effect. There were not found but one or two, that being pressed with the extremity of pain, and to rid themselves out, said that Alexander had given out in Rome, that his father was more inclined to the Parthians then to the Romans, and as they redoubled their torments in the favour of Antipater, they did even speak what ever they would have them; as that Alexander and Aristobulus had conspired to make away their father by poison, and then to go to Rome to demand the Crown, which had no show of probability; and as they were asked where was this poison? They added that it was in the Castle of Ascalon. And diligent search being made, there was no such matter found: Nevertheless Alexander is arrested; he being of a generous temper, and much moved to see executioners so busily employed, spoke with a loud voice to Herod, by way of Irony, What needs all these butcheries? Since that you will needs be deceived, why I have conspired against your life: And if you desire to know with whom, it was with Pheroras, your brother and sister Salome, with Ptolemy, Lapritius, and others of your Conncellers. Kill all the world and you may reign alone in safety. He spoke too mueh to be believed, and spoke it with an accent, that spoke nothing less. He is hereupon shut up in prison for some days, until that Archelaus (King of Capadocia) his father in law, being advertised of this disaster, arrives at Herod's Court. He makes with Herod no rash encounter, charging him with too much credulity, and the like with a mild temper. This was not the course to deal with a man that desired altogether to justify his actions. The Capadocian with a mild temper strikes sail, makes a show of great pity to see him in these troubles; saying, that his sons did him great wrong to molest him in this wise, that he came thither not to excuse his own son in law, but to punish his own daughter, if she were faulty. Herod took such comfort to hear him speak in that manner, that the tears trilled down his cheeks: And Archelaus seeing that he found it fit season for persuasion, gins by degrees to tell him, that intruth the young Princes showed somewhat too much stubbornness, but their youth and gentleness were abused, and it were well if this were looked to. He acted his part so well that he at last dispelled the mist of calumny. And Glaphira seeing herself now upon the stage, did with good language, & her tears carry all she would for her husband, so that the poor prisoner was forthwith released.  
Herod began now to live like a Cyclops in his Cave, walking still in the mists, and darkness of distrustful fears, and each moment upon the point to perpetrate fresh cruelties. And when they saw him to be so much frighted with shadows, Antipater did not fail to supply him with stuff, and matter to feed his suspicions, thereby to advance his own tortunes. There arrives an impostor, a Grecian to the Court of judea, named Euricles, in the state, and equipage of a Prince, and bestowed many presents on Herod, for to insinuate to his favours. The unhappy King likes well of the man, and places him in the list, and number of his most intimate friends. He did jodge with Antipater, and (seeing him predominant in Court) in all his actions he studied to win his favour, and liking above all, which he did abtain by conversing frequently, and familiarly with Alexander, and fetching the secrets of his heart, which he would after report (true, or false) to the ears of Herod, who did give him much credit.  
Three years being scarce passed over, behold calumny disgorgeth the rest of its venom: Two soldiers of Herod's guard being cashiered for some light offence, were afterwards imprudently received into Alexander's house, who did favour them seeing they were men of goodly personages, and capable of good service. These are accused to have partakt in the conspiracy, they are immediately apprehended and put upon the rack; the violence of the to●ments forced them to say that by the solicitation of Alexander and Aristobulus they had a design upon the person of Herod for to kill him in hunting. At that very time the Governor of the Alexandrine Citadel (which was one of the strongest pieces of the Realm) is charged to have promised to betray it into the power of these young Princes which he did stiffly renege.  
But his son who had suffered some disgrace by his father, steps out and saith the deposition was true: then he produced letters as from Alexander, which confirmed it, which were thought notwithstanding to have come from Secretary Diophantes, who made a trade of such forgeries.  
Herod required no farther proofs, he makes his two sons to be laid hold on, and resolves to destroy them. And indeed every man from that time forward held them but lost men. While these things were in motion, Melas one of the Counsellors of the King of Capadocia comes to judea to know where lay the knot and difficulty of the business; he finds the discord very much rankled & festered beyond his art and remedies. The wicked father convents his son (calling him from prison) before Melas, there to examine him, and to charge him with such crimes as were deposed against him. Alexander asks where the deponents were? It was answered they were now dead. H●e replied that this was wrong dealing to put them to death with a lie in their mouths, which was extorted from them by force of torments, and to seal them up for ever that they might not deliver the truth. As for him and his brother Aristobulus they had no other intention then to fly to Capadocia and thence to Rome for to deliver themselves from the violent hands of their father. When Herod heard him speak of the voyage to Capadocia, he desires Melas to inquire particularly of Glaphira, if she did not reveal more evidence touching this design; who when she law at first entry her husband in bolts, it was a piteous thing to see how it afflicted her. O my dear husband, saith she, are these the favours your father bestows on you! Is this the Diadem that he hath promised you? Grief that clogged her heart smothered the rest. A spring of tears flowed from Alexander's eyes, who loved her most dear, and all the company was so moved with this piteous spectacle, that those who sat there to examine them, looked one upon another, and forgot the formality of justice. Herod demanded of Alexander if his wife were not, privy to all his secrets, he made answer, that for her deserts and discretion he, never concealed aught from her. The poor Princess was somewhat frighted at the speech, yet spoke very simply that she was ignorant of all that was past as the child that was yet unborn: howbeit she was very ready to tell a  for to save her husband, and she never used to disavow any fault that her husband should tax her with. Alexander being touched to the quick with her pious intention tells her, Madam never wonder at it, you know well that I never had any other drift but to bring you to Capadocia to see the King your Father; lo that is all our offence. This did not cure Herod, but made his suspicion yet to extend towards King Archelaus, taking it ill that he would have withdrawn his son without his leave, and knowledge: he sends the prisoners back to their quarter, & in the mean while dispatcheth new Ambassadors to Rome for to justify himself of some false aspersions cast upon him, & to obtain from Caesar the liberty to dispose of his Children according as justice would require, which was granted him. The young Princes were so exclaimed upon & belied with such strange reports at Rome, that there was no man would adventure to undertake their defence. He being very glad of such specdy and successful audience (as he was a man full of formalities, who did always give his passions the gloss and tincture of justice. He calls a Council for the arraigning of his sons, admitting all those that he saw, and knew to be ill informed, for to favour his intentions, & omitting others that might any way divert or hinder them; among others Archelaus, who was expressly named by Caesar for to examine the cause. Morcover, which was horrible injustice, he would not have his sons to appear before the judges to hear what they could speak in their own defence, but he enters to the Court full gorged with gall and venom; he was never seen to change the Copy of his countenance so much as that time; his passions had all transsigured him in such sort, that he spoke such words, and did such actions as little beseem his gravity: his friends were mistaken in him, and he seemed to them to be a savage rather than a King: sometimes he did complain and lament, sometimes stood mute and stamped for anger; he produced some Letters of his sons that carried nothing of weight but only their journey to Capadocia, and yet notwithstanding, as if he gained some greatvictory, he cries out, my Masters, what say you to this? See you not this ungracious dealing! O that I had died before I had know and seen such treachery! Then he saith he would refer all to the course of justice, that he would do nothing through passion, and anon he proclaims, that he had not called the Assembly for to pass a judgement, but to follow and subscribe to his sentence, that posterity might with the more horror speak of such Parricides, then playing the Scribe or Theologer, he quotes Deuteronomy, where it is permitted to Fathers to stone their rebellious children to death, than he shows Caesar's Letters, which with them carried more strength than his Deuteronomy, and insisted so much upon them, as if the Delinquents had been formerly condemned by the sentence of Augustus Caesar. When they came to reckon the voices, Saturnine a Roman, one of Consular dignity and great authority, dissuaded plainly this cruelty, telling him that he was himself a Father, and he knew what it was to be such a one, and that Herod would repent of his rashness: this good man had three of his sons with him at that time, all gallant men and employed in places of dignity and trust, who did plead in favour of the young Princes, but all to no effect. After them starts up one Volumnius a rude fellow, who was a prime man, and a leader of the factious file, which was impanelled to serve Herod's purposes; these all with one accord past a sentence of death most unjustly: when this arrest was divulged abroad, an old soldier of Herod's guard named Tero, much moved with the news, straight goes to the palace, and desires to speak with the King in private, which was permitted him: This good man taking him aside uttered his tale so seriously, and withal so boldly, that he stuck not to say that he had lost his wits, when he would put to death the true heirs for to set up a Viper, who in fine would gnaw his bowels when he thought himself safest. Herod at first listened to him patiently; but when he ran on to much on that strain, he asked him who were those that found fault with his proceed? why that is I (said the old man) & these and these persons of quality, which he reckoned unto him. Herod sends him to safe custody, while he makes sure of the rest, whom he dooms all to die. Then causing his sons to be brought all to the City of Sebast, he dispatcheth two of the most cruel Lictors that he had in his service, for to strangle them in prison. The poor Princes, who expected nothing less than such a sentence, seeing the dreadful visages of these hellhounds, and the horrid shape of death before their eyes, grew pale and bloodless with fear, and asked them what news they brought? but they taking them apart like sheep aocounted for the slaughter, and showing them the instrument of death, they plainly discovered the reason of their coming; for without any more ado they took them by the throats, & putting the fatal cords about, strangled them by main force without any mercy. Poor Glaphira, who did yet cherish a good hope of her husband's desiverance, when she was a preparing of new batteries to move her Father in law to mercy, she hears at once the sad story of Alexander's death, and her own widow. hood: she was for a good while in a swoon, and after recovery stood as mute as a statue, then recollecting her spirits, and fetching a deep and hearty sigh, Alas quoth she I never thought that Herod would proceed to this! Tell him his sacrifice of cruelty is not yet complete: Lo here one moiety of it yet survives. Alexander, my dear Alexander, that livest eternally in my heart, must thou have ended thy candid innocent days by such an infamous executioner? Must thou have for thy hangman one whom nature had given for thy Father? Thou shouldst at least have called for me to receive the last breathing of thy departing soul, to receive thy last speeches, & to lay them up in the Cabinet of my heart. Then turning to her two children that were by her side: Alas poor Orphans, your Father will no more dandle you, and you must now begin your apprenticeship of misery in this tender age. The poor Lady did afflict herself extremely day and night, and being not able to live any longer in the Court of judea, no more then in a Lion's den, she was sent back to Capadocia to the King her Father. Herod retained her two sons under colour of bringing them up; but indeed for his greater safety, for fear that their name might serve for a pretence to some revolt.  
O the providenceof the Almighty! Thou seemest too tardy in pouring vengeance upon the heads of malefactors. These young Princes the children of so virtuous a Mother, so well educated, & so complete for all good parts, being declared heirs apparent to the Crown: These Princes, who were seen (but five years before) to return in triumph from Rome to jerusalem, like the two twin-stars that gilded all Palestine with their resplendent beams: These Princes who promised so many Trophies, and so many wonders, behold them now in their verdant years, in the flower of their hopes, at the gate of the Temple of honour, for a little freeness in language unmercifully massacred, and instead of a crown upon their head, die with cords about their necks, strangled by the hands of two of Herod's guard! Lo the goodly apprenticeship, and essays that Herod made three years before the birth of our Saviour for to prepare himself for actions, yet more horrible and tragical! It is said of Sylla that if mercy herself were in humane flesh upon the earth, he would have slain her; but Herod did what was worse, after so many butcheries his thirst of blood could not yet be satisfied, but imbrues his hands in the blood of 14000 Innocents', and seeks to destroy the Saviour of mankind, the Son of God himself, as every man knows the story out of holy Writ.  
'Tis now time to see the guerdon of these distorted degenerous souls, that we may observe the line or course of divine providence, which doth use to inflict some exemplary punishments here on earth on the wicked, and to give them a relish of those eternal pains they shall endure in hell.  
Detestable Antipater, who had contrived these mischiefs, seeing the two heirs of the Kingdom made away by his undermining wit, thought he had already mounted half the degrees to the Throne: He continued in his acquaint rogueries, and malicious pranks, still lurking under the mask of piety, as one that had extreme care of the life and state of his Father, aiming in the mean while at no other but then to make himself shortly absolute Lord: And fearing that Herod's affection toward him (which was ever wavering and changeable,) should cool, he goes about every day to practise great intelligences to make his cards, and win benevolence; but he was hated of the people as a Tiger, and the soldiers that knew him guilty of his brethren's blood (who were so well beloved of the nobles) could never affect him.  
The Commonalty above all were extremely touched with compassion, passion, when ever the children of Alexander and Aristobulus (who were brought up in Herod's court) were led in the streets. All the world beheld the poor Orphans with weeping eyes, and with much anguish of soul called to mind the disasters of their Fathers. Antipater saw well that it was expedient for him to absent himself from the Court, both to extinguish envy, and that he might not sing his wings by flickering too long about the candle, fearing that in time his Father (who was but too cunning in such matters) would sent him out and his projects. Yet not withstanding he was so close, that he would not openly beg leave of Herod for absence, for fear he should engender suspicion, but he got his friend at Rome (with whom he dealt under hand) to write letters to his father in his behalf, which effected all that he desired, namely; that it was expedient for him to send him to Rome, for to break and divert some enterprises of the Arabians on the Kingdom of judea. Herod having received these Letters, dispatcheth him presently, with a very goodly equipage; with great Presents, and the Testament withal, whereby he was declared King after his father's decease. Lo fortune hath filled the sails of his desires! But as the eye of the Almighty never sleeps, and takes the crafty in their own imaginations, it happened that Pheroras, who as we have related, acted his part in this bloody tragedy, departed this world by a sudden death, and poisoned as it was thought by the maid which he had married.  
Herod being entreated to go over to his brother's house to make inquisition of the fact, finds by good warrant and far beside his thoughts, how that Antipater his son had sent Pheroras (when he was in disgrace and out of favour at Court) some poison for to make away his father then while he was at Rome, that so he might return immediately to Palestine with his temples girt with a Diadem. This was deposed by a son of Antipater's farmer, whom he had made overseer of his estate during his absence; which was seconded with such pregnant & strong presumptions and evident circumstances, that there was now nothing left to suspend his belief. Herod asks where was this poison? The young man replied, it was with the window of his brother Pheroras she being questioned concerning it got up to an upper room, pretending to go and fetch it, but being got up to the top of the house, in a desperate manner she casts herself down headlong; but it pleased God that this fall proved not mortal according to her desire. They did encourage her and made all promises of impunity, if she would but freely confess the truth: She confesseth that indeed her husband had a poison sent from Antipater, and that he was once minded for to do the deed, but it repent him a little before his death, & he detested such wickedness: & upon these words she takes out the poison which they sound to be most deadly, by making experiment upon condemned persons. At that very time Eathillus a freeman of Antipater's was surprised, coming from Rome to judea, to advise Pheroras to hasten his design, & bringing another poison, in case the former did not prove effectual. In the mean time Antipater writes to his Father, that he laboured diligently at Rome to dispel some clouds of slander and to clear his affairs, which he hoped to bring about, and to return very shortly for judea. Herod who would have long since caught him in his claws, sends to him these lines;  
Son, my declining age & the craziness of my body do every day instruct me that I am mortal, one thing comforts me that I have made choice of your person to succeed me in my Throne: I shall see my old age spring again & flourish in your and my death to be smothered (as it were) in your life, seeing that I shall live in my other half, which is your dear self. I would you had continued still near my person, not only for the assistance your piety still afforded me, but for the prejudice that might accrue to your fortune by your absence: Fail not therefore with the good leave of Caesar to render yourself here present with the best speed you can; delay will not any way favour your affairs here. This bait had charm enough to allure, and art enough to conceal the hook. Upon these news, he was ready to ride upon the wings of the wind to present himself in jerusalem: He dispatcheth his business, takes leave of Augnstus, & makes all expedition possible to show the behests of his father. It was very strange, that he could never have any advertisements by the way of what had passed, so odious was he to God and man! But being at Cilicia he learned that his mother was discarded and expelled the Court, which did much affright him, and he thought to beat his way back again: But one of his Council (perchance suborned by Herod) gins to tell him, that if there were nothing intended against him he needed not to fear, and if any slander was broached of him, he ought to make the more haste to quash it, other wise his absence would but cause further suspicion. He swallows the advice, and (not withstanding some secret reluctancy, & remorse of conscience) he follows the road for I●dea. when he was arrived at the haven of Sebaste he began to 〈◊〉 into deeper apprehensions of danger then ever; for having seen at this very Port not long before at his departure such a throng of people tearing the air with their acclamations, not for any love they owed to him, but to show their obeisance to Herod, who would have it so; but he now perceived that fortune had turned tail, he was received with a lowering countenance, & some did look upon him askew with a quarter face, & murmured between their teeth, as cursing him for that he had spilt his brethren's blood. He was engaged too far on to make retrair, & God's vengeance had already marked out his lodgings. He goes on from Sebaste straight for jerusalem, and marches to the Palace, sumptuously apparelled, and with a numerous train: the Guard made way for him to enter, but were commanded by the King to keep back all those that attended him; he was quite astonished to see himself caught so like a bird in a net, nevertheless he goes on his way, enters the hall where his father stayed, expecting his approach, accompanied with Quintilius Varus lately sent from Rome to be Governor of Syria. When he had made a most reverend submissive congee, he draws near to kiss his father according to the manner of the Country, but he straightways hears the roaring of a Lion, for Herod drawing a step back cries out, Stand aloof Murderer, it is not for you any more or any such to receive the welcome kisses of a father: Behold there Q. Varus your judge, bethink yourself by to morrow how to answer to such crimes as you are charged with. He was thunderstruck with this speech and withdrew himself out of the room with paleness in his face, and the horror of his crime in his conscience. In the next chamber he finds his mother and his wife all drenched in tears, who with lamenting eyes had already solemnised his funeral: such an astonishment seized upon him that he had neither a tongue to comfort them, nor so much as tears to bewail his own misfortunes. He passed over all the night with much disquiet of mind, finding now by experiment that it was easier for to commit a crime then excuse it. The morrow being come, he was called before the judgement seat, where he found his father with Q. Varus & a good number of the Counsellors of state. Upon the very point, news was brought of some letters of his mother that were intercepted, which did give him notice that all was discovered, and that he should beware to return and put himself into the hands of his father, if he would not fall into the jaws of a Lion. This was showed him at his entry into the Council▪ Chamber, he expected but the hour when he should be strangled, he was already under the Strappadoes of his conscience; therefore casting himself down on his knees, he begs of his father that he might not be condemned before he were heard: Herod replies, Varlet what hast thou to say? Hath God reserved thee to be the last scourge of my old age? Thou knowest I have taken thee from the bottom and lees of fortune for to place thee above thy brethren, both beyond and against all hopes. I have put all my treasures, my revenues, my authority, my affection, my secrets, my heart, and my Crown into thy hands by a testament scaled with mine own hand, and couldst not thou expect till thy Father's eyes were closed up by a natural death, that thou mightest freely enjoy them? This was it that thy designs did then aim ●● when thou didst so hotly pursue the death of thy brethren. I have done nothing in their arraignment, but by thy denunciation, and advice. Accursed wretch, I am afraid that thou hast stained me with their blood; thy crimes doth now give light to their 〈◊〉 At these words he wept bitterly, recalling to mind his Mar●●●●, and unhappy children, he fou●● his heart so oppressed with sorrow, that he was fain to entreat his Chancellor Nicholas Damascene to proceed. Antipater prevented him and spoke in his own defence, That they did him great wrong to believe slaves, and women to his prejudice, that he had Caesar's letters (whom he could no more deceive then God himself) which gave ample testimony of his good abeare, and what content he gave to all at Rome; that he was never wanting in his piety towards his Father; and it were a piece of extreme folly to thrust himself into uncertain dangers for a Crown that he was certain of, and had in his own hands. Briefly, not to make a longer discourse, that he offered himself to be used like a slave, and to be set upon the rack to prove his innocence. And speaking this he did rave, and stamp in a fearful manner, insomuch that he began to move all the bench to pity and wonder. Nicholas Damascene being a stern and rough judge, takes him in hand, confronts him with witnesses, canvasseth him, presseth, puzzles, & quite confounds him, then dischargeth a invective against him, exaggerating (like an Orator) all the circumstances of his crime. Is it not (saith he) a brutish stupidity to conspire against your Father, the blood of your brethren being as yet before your eyes, and all the assurances of a Sceptre in your hands. must a man needs be a Parricide for to be possessor of a Crown which was bequeathed you by Testament so solemn and authentic? Did you expect any more than ●hat your Father's blood should be the seal? and such a father whose life is precious among all good men, and whose nature is so indulgent in favour of his children, deserve they never so little. An ingratitude able to make heaven to blush, and the earth to tremble under our feet, yea and worthy that all the elements should conspire to chastise it. The man ran on thus in fire and fury; pouring out a torrent of words, while the wreteh Antipater with a dejected countenance pra●'d God to work some miracle in his behalf for to manifest his innocence, seeing that he was mercilessly oppressed by the malice of his adversaries. It is strange that a man who had no god in his life time, would now seek one at his death. This man lived as though there were neither heaven nor Hell, and seeing him so near the brink of death, he besough a Daity to patronise his offence. Varus speaks to him, my friend, expect not any extraordinary signs from heaven on your behalf, but if you have any specious reason or Apology produce it into evidence, the King your Father desires nothing more than that you might quit yourself nobly. Upon this he was confounded as a lost man. Varus taking the poison which was brought to the judgement seat caused it to be given to a Malefactor that was sentenced to death, who died immediately in the place; whereupon all the assembly arose forth with, thereby giving manifest token of Antipater's condemnation. His Father now holding him for convict, demands of him who were his complices, he named but Antiphilus  
Philus only who had brought the poison, and said that that Varlet had been the cause of his undoing. It wanted but little, that Herod did not then presently execute the sentence of death; but according to his ordinary proceed he resolved to acquaint Caesar therewith first, and to send him the process with full instructions of the examination, that so he might do according to his good pleasure. In the mean while Antipater is shut up in close prison, expecting each day (like a piacular victim) the fatal stroke.  
Herod moreover had now about threescore and ten years upon his back, and by the feebleness of his age perceived the signals of death's approach: This was a bit very tough to digest, never did any man love this life so well; he had verily parted with his portion in the other world, that he might enjoy this forever, for that, indeed he was superlatively wicked. Towards his later days he grew so pensive and thenso choleric, and furious, that his domestic servants knew not how to board him. He was in his Court like an old Lion bound in the chains of incurable diseases: He persuaded himself, that he was hated of all the world, and he was not deceived in his opinion, for he had given but too much occasion.  
The people burst the yoke of duty and allegiance, and could no longer endure him. As soon as the rumour ran of his sickness, judes' and Mathias, two of the most famous Doctors of the jewish law, who had all the youth of Jerusalem under their charge, instigated stigated some of the boldest of their sect unto a venturous attempt, as thus. Herod having reëdified & much beautified the Temple of Jerusalem (as he had always showed himself for his own interests an Idolater of Caesar's fortune,) caused on the chiefest gate thereof to be planted the Roman Eagle which glittered all in gold: This was a great eyesore to the jews, who never could endure any shape of man or beast within their Temples: so much did they abhor these monsters which their fathers in Egypt adored. Lo this was the reason why judas M●athias, who were as the principal men (thinking that Herod's sickness favoured their purposes) began to exhort in good earnest the most valiant of the young men that frequented their houses, to take in hand God's quarrel according to the noble spirits of their ancestors and to batter down this abomination that was advanced upon the Temple: the danger was not now so great, Herod being cumbered with businesses and diseases, but if it should happen that any should lose his life, to dye in so good & glorious an act was to dye triumphant, and Laurels would grow up out of their tombs. They failed not to spur up these younkers, & to set an edge on their courage, with many specious and plausible arguments. Lo a regiment of the most resolute of them, goes forth at midday, armed with axes and hatchets, who scale the Temple & quash in pieces the Eagle in the sight of all the world; Judas and Mathias being then present, and serving as trumpets to the sedition. The noise arrived presently at Court, the Captain of the Guard runs thither with a maniple of the hardiest soldiers, he was afraid of some greater matter towards, & that this demolition was but a velitation, or skirmish of a greater tumult. But at first onset, when he began to charge, the people did retire, which did encourage him to fall on, and to follow closer: forty young men that were busiest were taken in the place, judas and Mathias bearing them company, thinking it a dishonour to recoil, and that they ought to follow them at least into danger, whom they at first had lead into mischiefs. As they were presented to Herod, and being asked whence proceeded that insolent presumption and rashness, they frankly answered that the business had been consulted of, & well discussed among them, and if it were yet to be done, they were ready to put into execution: forasmuch as they were more obliged to obey Moses then Herod. Herod some what startled with their resolution, and fearing greater commotions, caused them secretly to be conveyed to jerico, whether himself was carried, though weak and sickly. Then assembling the chiefest of them, he speaks to them from his couch, making a large narration of the good offices he had done to that nation, of the Temple which he had built, the ornaments with which he did enrich in; adding that in few years he had done what their Hassamonean Kings could not in 120, and in recompense of his piety they went at high-noon to violate with strange insolence a sacred donative he bestowed on the Temple, in the which God was more interessed than himself, and therefore he did so much the more require a reason of this attempt.  
These men fearing to awake his anger, further did falsify & clude the blow, and did transfer it all on their companions, abandoning them to the discretion of the king. Thereupon the Priest hood was taken away from Mathias, and another Mathias, who was held to be a ringleader in the sedition, was burnt alive with his companions that same night, at which time was seen an eclipse of the Moon, which made the spectacle yet more terrible. Herod some few days after having tried, and spent in vain all humane remedies, was brought into a miserable state of sickness, which is pertinently described by josephus and Ensebius. It was God's pleasure he should drink often and deep of the cup of his justice in this life, wasting his wretched body with tedious pains. therefore he was smote from heaven, and was charged with a fierce squadron of incurable diseases, he that from his youth up did bu●● with a furious ambition, felt at his death a greedy fire feeding on his entralls: he that all his life-time, had an insatiable thirst of a massing treasure (insomuch that he digged up the tombs of David and Solomon for to ransack the spoils) was tormented with a Dog appetite; a horrible disease, and which modesty fears to deseribe, which made him cry out for hunger, eating day and night and could not be satisfied, he that made so many voyages and performed so many achievements to raise himself above the level of ordinary fortunes, saw then his feet swell with redundant humours. He that practised so many tortures in his life time, was now racked with the violent and intolerable pangs of a Colic: he that bereaved so many men of their breath, did now draw breath with much difficulty and pain: He that held humane wisdom and policy for the nerves and strength of his estate, felt now in his body such Cramps and Convulsions of Nerves and Sinews, that he was sorely and pitifully shaken: He that had shed poor Mariamnes blood, murdered her Sons for to make the Kids boil in the milk of the Dam, as the Scripture speaks: He that had imbrued his hands in the blood of about  
14000 innocents with an intention to involve the Saviour of the world in that general massacre died in his own blood afflicted with a cruel dissentry. He that had abused his member. with monstrous luxury was overrun and consumed with an army of Lice, accompanied with an ignominious satiriasme, a disease which I scarce dare name. And now, say the eye of providence is not awaked for the punishing of delinquents. This desperate wretch at his death instead of adoring the justice of God and kissing the rod that gave him correction, thinks on now slaughters. He assembles by an edict the most principal of the Jews out of every Province unto jerice, and having pounded them within the cirque he calls to him his Sister Salome and her husband  
Alexander, and addresseth his speech unto them in this manner.  
It grieves me not at all to dye and to render that tribute to nature, which so many Kings before me have paid. But it troubles me that my death will not be so much bemoaned as I could wish, if you do refrain your hands. Know then that for this purpose I have sent for these Nobles of Irdea; As soon as ever death shall draw these Curtains over mine eyes, let them all fall by the edge of the sword, and let not my death be divulged before that the news of these men's death arrive at each one's Country and kindred. By this means I hope to fill all judea with lamentation and woe, which will be music to my soul as her last departure. This pernicious fiendin thus spealing, be fought  
Sister with hot tears, by all that she esteemed in the world most precious & sacred, & as she hoped for Paradise, to perform his will, and to give him content: she must promise it with an oath at that very instant, though afterwards it was not at all put in execution.  
In this sole act he shown that he was not informed with a reasonable soul, he was but a wolf in man's skin and shape, and that the thirst of humane blood was now changed into his nature. As he was making this goodly Testament, Letters were brought him from Caesar which did acquaint him that one Acme a lewish Damsel, who was of the train of Livia the wife of Augustus, had been convicted of bad intelligence with Antipater, and was therefore punished with death, as for his sons he referred them wholly to his own disposal. This man at the point of death sucked revenge yet with wonderful pleasure. This news was balm to his tortured carcase, he calls for an apple and a knife, thinking to pair it himself, but thereupon his pains (that had given him but short truce) assailed him with double force, so that he was quite weary of his life which he had so dear loved. One of his grand children named Achiabus, who at that time stood near the bed, perceived that he rolled his eyes furiously, and looked as though he would have rid himself of his torments with the knife he had in his hand, which did much affright the young Prince, who holding his arm as gently as he could, he began to cry out, as though his good father had yielded up the Ghost, wherewith the whole Court was mustered up. Antipater out of his prison overheard the tumult, and suspected that Herod was a dying, he did not yet despair of the Crown, offering mountains (as we say) of gold to his Warder to let him escape.  
But behold the judgement of God the keeper of the prison instead of all the ample rewards that were promised him, and which he might have enjoyed, he goes strain way to the Father and relates to him how that. Antipater had urged him withal supplications & promises to let him lose out of the prison, that he might take possession of the kingdom. Herod ra●ing and beating his head, cries out. what will the villain murder me in my bed, I have yet life enough to take away his, then raising himself a little upon the bolster, and leaning upon his elbow, he calls to one of the Guard, go you (quoth he) hence to the prison & kill that parricide there, and let him be interred in the Castle of Hyrcanus with out any Rites, or solemnities of a funeral. This was instantly executed, and such was the end of this unhappy thing, who moved Earth and Hell for to mount his father's throne, according as some Matherfaticians had foretold.  
Five days being exphed from the death of Antipater, Herod after he had declared Arche●aus for his Succeed out in the Realm, contrary to 〈◊〉 determination, whereby he had designed it for Antipater, after he had astorted to his two other Sons such portions as he thought good, and beqdeathed large Legacies to August us Caesar he gave up his wretched soul in rage, and despair, in the year of his life threescore and ten, and of his reign 37. A man (saith losephus) whose actions always overruled the Laws, land his passions them, who notwithstanding all his prosperity was esteemed the most miserable man in the world. Mark how this Author speaks, who was a wise Statesman to instruct humane policy, that there is neither wisdom, nor greatness, nor happiness where God is wanting. For to let pass 〈◊〉 eternal torments of the oth●● 〈◊〉 ●hich this barbarous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●nder the hand of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I am verily perswad●● 〈◊〉 there is no Peasant, nor Hin●● (if he be not stupid) would change one day of his life for the thirty seven years of  
Herod's reign, which he passed in continual jealousnesse, troublesome affairs, perilous voyages, sinister mistrusts, barbarous cruelties, and remorse of conscience, which is the harbinger, & preamble of Hell. Leaving more over behind him a numerous, and unhappy Posterity.  
FINIS.